Dengue virus (DENV) is a member of the flavivirus family causing dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease that can be life-threatening. Despite DENV’s widespread presence in over 80 countries and the significant health burden posed by the infection, there is still a critical need for therapeutics and vaccines, with current treatment options only providing supportive care.

Dengue virus (DENV) is a member of the flavivirus family causing dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease that can be life-threatening. Despite DENV’s widespread presence in over 80 countries and the significant health burden posed by the infection, there is still a critical need for therapeutics and vaccines, with current treatment options only providing supportive care.

Blocking the interaction between two dengue virus (DENV) nonstructural proteins, NS3 and NS4B, with a newly developed small-molecule inhibitor resulted in potent antiviral activity in mouse models, according to an international collaborative study led by scientists at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven), CD3 the Centre for Drug Design and Discovery in Leuven, and Janssen Pharmaceutica in Beerse, Belgium.