‘Made in India’ Dengue Vaccine Qdenga Likely to Launch by 2026

India is likely to make a significant step in managing dengue with the roll out of a ‘Made in India’ variant of the vaccine ‘Qdenga’. Initially worked on by Japanese drug behemoth Takeda, the vaccine is currently being produced locally with Hyderabad-based Biologics E. India trials are in progress, and the vaccine will be available in marketplaces by 2026. It will be made accessible in public as well as private sector.

The launch is in line with India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and consolidates its status as a global vaccine manufacturer. With almost 3 lakh dengue cases in 2023, the highest in five years, the vaccine may prove to be a game-changer for India’s public health policy.

What is Qdenga and Why Iit Matters ?

Qdenga or TAK-003 is a live-attenuated dengue vaccine. It employs weakened strains of all four dengue virus serotypes (DENV-1 to DENV-4). The vaccine provides broad immunity and is effective for both seropositive and seronegative populations. Two doses are administered three months apart.

Scientists pointed out that two doses had more than 90% immunogenicity in both kids and adults. The information is based on multiple global trials and indicates robust safety profile.

Robust Support from Global Health Organizations

Takeda began dengue vaccine development in the 1980s. It collaborated with the US CDC and initiated a large trial in 2012 — the TIDES study. The study included 20,000 children in eight countries endemic for dengue. Four-and-a-half years of follow-up data were published by The Lancet in 2023.

In May 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified Qdenga. It followed consideration of 19 studies that reported a more than 50% decrease in cases of dengue using the vaccine. More than 10 million doses have been given since global rollout in 2023.

India’s Role in Production and Distribution

India will not only employ Qdenga — it will assist in producing it. Takeda has teamed up with Biological E to produce single- and multi-dose vials locally. The step will augment India’s public health system and make vaccine logistics easier.

Today, Takeda manufactures single-dose vials in Germany. Bio E will manufacture half of 100 million doses administered annually by 2030. It will also become Takeda’s exclusive manufacturer of multi-dose vials — a format of choice for public health programs.

Rollout in the Public & Private Sectors

Takeda intends to distribute the vaccine both in public and private markets. In the public domain, it will abide by WHO protocols and target children through India’s National Immunisation Program. In the private domain, both children and adults will be entitled to it.

The double approach will translate to greater access and quicker pick-up across different age groups.

India’s Surging Vaccine Leadership

With Qdenga’s local launch, India is not only fighting dengue. It is also gearing up as a vaccine production hub. Having basked in the global limelight during COVID-19, India is now demonstrating its capability to ramp up production for other diseases.

This endeavor could bring new opportunities for vaccine diplomacy and export collaborations.

Qdenga’s launch in India may redefine India’s battle against dengue. It also gives a boost to the ‘Make in India’ vision. With India set to manufacture and supply Qdenga in scale, it establishes a new benchmark in the integration of public health objectives with manufacturing prowess.