India approves first dengue vaccine as Takeda’s QDENGA

Takeda QDENGA the first dengue vaccine developed in India by a Japanese Pharma received approval.

India has approved its first dengue vaccine, granting regulatory clearance to Japanese drugmaker Takeda Pharmaceutical’s QDENGA, in a major milestone in the country’s fight against the mosquito-borne disease.

Takeda announced on Monday that India’s drug regulator had authorised the vaccine, providing the country with its first approved immunisation option against dengue as cases continue to rise.

The company said reported dengue infections in India have increased nearly elevenfold over the past two decades, underlining the growing public health challenge and the need for stronger preventive measures.

QDENGA is a live-attenuated tetravalent vaccine designed to protect against all four dengue virus serotypes. According to Takeda, the vaccine can be administered regardless of whether a person has previously been infected with dengue and does not require pre-vaccination screening, making it suitable for large-scale immunisation programmes.

India accounts for nearly one-third of the world's dengue cases, making it one of the most important markets for the vaccine. The approval comes as health authorities continue to tackle recurring outbreaks in several parts of the country.

To support future supply, Takeda entered into a partnership with Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturer Biological E in 2024.

Under the agreement, Biological E plans to build manufacturing capacity for up to 50 million doses annually, contributing to Takeda’s global goal of producing 100 million doses each year by the end of the decade.

Since its international launch in 2022, QDENGA has been approved in 43 countries, with more than 32 million doses distributed worldwide.

Source: NDTV via UNB