Sanofi Pasteur has announced that its developmental dengue fever vaccine has entered into phase III clinical testing.

The vaccines specialist has commenced a study of the new treatment in Australia as part of a planned global phase III trial programme, which will evaluate the drug among both children and adults.

This announcement means that Sanofi Pasteur's compound is now the most clinically advanced dengue fever vaccine ever produced, as no previous therapies have reached the phase III stage.

Should these studies yield positive results, the company would be able to submit the drug for regulatory approval, which would represent a vital breakthrough for almost three billion people who are under threat from the illness.

Wayne Pisano, president and chief executive officer of Sanofi Pasteur, said: "We are now entering the final laps of a long run that Sanofi Pasteur started almost 20 years ago."

Last month, it was announced that Sanofi Pasteur has allied with Perceptive Informatics, a subsidiary of Parexel, to aid in its future clinical trial management.