It was revealed that India’s first dengue vaccine has received market authorization from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), marking a major step in the nation’s efforts to combat one of its most prevalent mosquito-borne diseases.

Regardless of whether someone has previously contracted dengue, the vaccine can be given to anyone between the ages of 4 and 60.

Unlike certain previous dengue vaccines, QDENGA does not necessitate pre-vaccination screening, enabling qualified individuals to receive the vaccine without having tests to confirm previous dengue infection.

Takeda stated that the permission boosts India’s dengue prevention plan at a time when the nation continues to carry one of the world’s highest disease burdens, with all four dengue virus serotypes circulating in many areas.

Since its debut in 2022, QDENGA has received approval in 43 countries and has distributed over 32 million doses worldwide. Mahender Nayak, Head of Intercontinental Markets at Takeda, stated that this permission is a crucial step towards improving dengue prevention in India.

The corporation stated that evidence from its global clinical development programme, which included 19 Phase I, II, and III clinical studies with over 28,000 individuals from dengue-endemic and non-endemic countries, backed the approval.

In India, the Phase III DEN-302 clinical study, which assessed the vaccine’s safety and immune response in people between the ages of 4 and 60, was also examined by the country’s authorities.

Takeda claims that seven years of long-term follow-up statistics show QDENGA is still effective against all four virus serotypes’ dengue infections and dengue-related hospitalizations.

Two subcutaneous injections of 0. 5 mL each, given three months apart, make up the vaccination.

According to Goh Choo Beng, Head of Medical Affairs for Takeda’s Southeast Asia and India Cluster, the vaccine is intended to protect against all four serotypes of the dengue virus, regardless of whether you’ve been exposed to them before.

He stated that its approval marks a crucial step in reinforcing India’s comprehensive strategy to dengue prevention, along with community awareness, surveillance, vector management, and other public health measures.