India is set to get its first dengue vaccine, Qdenga, from next year, following a marketing agreement signed between Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Hyderabad-headquartered Dr Reddy’s Laboratories.
Dengue cases typically rise during the monsoon season, affecting both children and adults. Severe illness can lead to a drop in platelet count, often requiring hospitalisation, and deaths have also been reported.
Over the past 20 years, dengue’s impact in India has increased 11-fold, according to the report. Last year, 1.13 lakh people were affected nationwide and 95 deaths were recorded. This year too, infections have risen, with Tamil Nadu seeing 70 to 100 dengue patients admitted to hospitals daily.
Qdenga showed 80.2% efficacy against dengue one year after vaccination in a final-stage clinical trial conducted earlier this year. The vaccine was also found to be 90.4% effective in preventing hospitalisation due to dengue 18 months after the second dose.
After the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation approved the vaccine for use and marketing in July, the two companies said Qdenga would be made available through the private market. They added that, once local regulatory procedures are completed, the vaccine is expected to be available in the first half of next year. The official price has not been announced, though steps are reportedly being taken to keep it affordable.
