A health worker holds a vial of dengue vaccine Qdenga, in Joquin V. Gonzalez, Salta, Argentina March 16, 2024. REUTERS
Sept 18 (Reuters) – Dr Reddy’s Laboratories said on Friday it had signed an agreement with Japanese drugmaker Takeda Pharmaceutical to promote and distribute the Qdenga dengue vaccine in India.
The deal comes months after India’s drug regulator approved Qdenga for use in both children and adults, making it the first dengue vaccine cleared for the country.
Dr Reddy’s said the vaccine is expected to be available in India in the first half of 2027.
Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral infection, is among the world’s fastest-growing vector-borne diseases. The World Health Organization reported a record 14.4 million dengue cases and 11,201 deaths globally in 2024, including 232,425 cases and 233 deaths in India.
Qdenga is administered in two 0.5 ml doses, given three months apart, and can be used irrespective of prior dengue infection, removing the need for pre-vaccination screening.
Reporting by Kashish Tandon in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema
