New Delhi, July 20: India has approved its first dengue vaccine, QDENGA, after the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) granted market authorisation to Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India, marking a significant milestone in the country’s fight against the mosquito-borne disease.
According to the company, the vaccine is approved for individuals aged 4 to 60 years and can be administered regardless of prior dengue infection. Unlike some existing dengue vaccines, QDENGA does not require pre-vaccination screening, enabling eligible recipients to receive the vaccine without testing for previous exposure.
The approval comes as India continues to bear one of the world’s highest dengue burdens, with cases rising sharply over the past two decades due to rapid urbanisation, climate change, expanding mosquito habitats and population growth.
QDENGA is a live-attenuated tetravalent vaccine designed to provide protection against all four dengue virus serotypes—DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4.
The vaccine has already been approved in more than 40 countries, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Indonesia and Argentina. It has also received World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification, certifying that it meets international standards for quality, safety and efficacy.
The WHO prequalification also makes QDENGA eligible for procurement by international agencies such as UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
Dengue remains a major public health challenge, with the disease prevalent in more than 125 countries. India alone accounts for nearly one-third of the global dengue burden, making the approval a significant step towards strengthening disease prevention efforts. (Authorities)
