Dr Reddy’s Laboratories and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, through its Indian subsidiary Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India, have signed a distribution agreement for QDENGA, Takeda’s dengue vaccine. Under the agreement, Dr Reddy’s will promote and distribute QDENGA across India’s private market for pediatric and adult vaccination. Subject to the completion of applicable regulatory processes, the vaccine is expected to become available in India during the first half of 2027. The collaboration follows QDENGA’s marketing authorisation from India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in July 2026 for individuals aged 4 to 60 years. The approval makes QDENGA the first dengue vaccine approved in India.
Dr Reddy’s to Lead Private-Market Distribution
Under the agreement, Dr Reddy’s will serve as the exclusive partner for the promotion and distribution of QDENGA in India’s private market for pediatric and adult vaccination. Meanwhile, Takeda will retain the rights to promote and distribute QDENGA in the public market. The company will also retain legal ownership of the vaccine and overall responsibility for its medical and brand oversight. Together, the companies will engage healthcare professionals and support disease awareness, vaccine promotion and distribution across India’s private market, in line with applicable regulatory requirements.
Dengue Remains a Public Health Challenge
The partnership comes as dengue continues to pose a significant public-health challenge in India. Reported dengue cases have increased substantially over the past two decades. Furthermore, a nationwide dengue surveillance study conducted by the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) found that all four dengue virus serotypes — DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4 — are circulating across multiple regions of India.
Companies Target Wider Access to Dengue Vaccination
MV Ramana, CEO – Global Generics, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, said the introduction of India’s first approved dengue vaccine represents an important development for the country’s healthcare sector. “As the second-largest vaccine player in India, we believe the introduction of India’s first approved dengue vaccine is an important development for the country’s healthcare landscape,” he said. Ramana added that the collaboration with Takeda will help make QDENGA available to eligible individuals and contribute to efforts to address India’s dengue burden. Dr Mahender Nayak, Head of Intercontinental Markets, International Business Unit, Takeda, said the company remains focused on supporting India’s evolving healthcare needs and expanding access to dengue vaccination.
He also highlighted a recent recommendation by a Parliamentary Committee on Health to consider dengue vaccination under the Universal Immunization Program. According to Takeda, the recommendation reflects growing recognition of dengue as a public-health challenge.
QDENGA Uses Tetravalent Vaccine Technology
QDENGA, also known as TAK-003, is a live-attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine. It uses a DENV-2 backbone along with structural proteins from DENV-1, DENV-3 and DENV-4. The vaccine is administered in a two-dose schedule, with the doses given three months apart. Takeda has evaluated QDENGA through a global clinical programme involving more than 60,000 participants across eight dengue-endemic countries.
QDENGA Approved in 43 Countries
Since 2022, Takeda’s dengue vaccine has received approval in 43 countries, with more than 32 million doses distributed worldwide through public and private vaccination programmes. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended QDENGA without pre-vaccination screening for use in high-endemic countries. The vaccine is also included in the WHO List of Prequalified Vaccines. As reported by themachinemaker.com, with the planned private-market distribution in India, Dr Reddy’s and Takeda will focus on expanding access to QDENGA among eligible pediatric and adult populations once the vaccine becomes commercially available.
