Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi SA, of Paris, said the first of two pivotal phase III efficacy studies with its dengue vaccine candidate has achieved its primary clinical endpoint. The study showed a reduction of 56 percent of dengue disease cases. Initial safety data are consistent with the good safety profile observed in previous studies. Full analysis of the data will be undertaken in the coming weeks and reviewed by external experts prior to disclosure at an upcoming scientific congress and publication in a peer-reviewed journal later this year. The study, conducted in Asia, is a randomized, observer-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial. A total of 10,275 children ages 2 to 14 years from dengue-endemic areas of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam participated in the study from 2011-2013 and were randomized to either receive three injections of the dengue vaccine or a placebo at six-month intervals.