New Delhi: ‘Qdenga,’ the country’s first dengue vaccine approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), has completed its quality verification processes and is set to become available in the Indian private market in the first half of 2027.
Global Japanese pharmaceutical giant ‘Takeda Pharmaceuticals’ and India’s ‘Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories’ have officially announced a major collaboration regarding this. Under this agreement, Dr. Reddy’s has secured exclusive rights to market and distribute the vaccine to both children and adults across the private sector in India.
Late-stage clinical trials showed that the vaccine provided 80.2% protection against dengue one year after the administration of the second dose. A study conducted 18 months post-vaccination demonstrated that it reduces the risk of hospitalization due to dengue infection by 90.4%.
The vaccine is administered in two doses with a three-month interval to individuals aged 4 to 60 years. It can be administered directly without the need for prior testing to determine whether the individual has previously contracted dengue. The price of the vaccine for the Indian market has not yet been finalized; consultations regarding local regulatory processes and pricing are currently underway. Initially, Takeda and Dr. Reddy’s have decided to jointly make the vaccine available to the public through private hospitals and healthcare networks in India.
Dengue Concerns in India:
In 2025, 113,450 dengue cases and 95 deaths were reported in India. Dengue cases in the country have surged eleven-fold over the last two decades, with the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes during and after the monsoon season placing immense pressure on hospitals. The introduction of the vaccine now provides a significant boost to the public health sector.