Hawaii Biotech Inc. has begun Phase 1 clinical trials on a potential dengue fever vaccine it developed.

The first phase of the trial on its monovalent vaccine candidate is being conducted at the St. Louis University Vaccine Development Center. It is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation safety study on healthy participants, said Elliot Parks, Hawaii Biotech president and chief executive officer.

“;This dengue clinical study is an important milestone in Hawaii Biotech's maturation as a clinical stage company,”; Parks said. “;It will also prepare us for the initial clinical testing of Hawaii Biotech's tetravalent dengue vaccine.”;

The trial is designed to assess the potential vaccine's safety, determine a range of doses and identify potential side effects.

Results are expected within a year.

Dengue fever, also known as “;break-bone fever,”; is an infectious disease common in tropical and subtropical countries around the world. Of the estimated 3.5 billion people who live in these climes, about 100 million are infected with dengue annually.