In a move towards combating the global burden of dengue fever, Takeda, a pharmaceutical company, has forged a strategic partnership with Biological E. Limited (BE), an India-based vaccines and pharmaceutical company. 

The collaboration aims to expedite access to QDENGA®?, a Dengue Tetravalent Vaccine (TAK-003) presented in multi-dose vials (MDVs), for government procurement in endemic countries by 2030.

MDVs, heralded for their economic and logistical advantages, promise to minimize packaging and storage expenses while concurrently reducing medical and environmental waste, a critical consideration for National Immunization Programs. 

BE will enhance its manufacturing capacity to produce up to 50 million doses annually, aligning with Takeda's ambition to reach a manufacturing capacity of 100 million doses per year within the decade. This venture will capitalize on Takeda's existing manufacturing capabilities in Singen, Germany, and its enduring partnership with IDT Biologika GmbH.

Gary Dubin, M.D., President of the Global Vaccine Business Unit at Takeda, expressed the company's dedication to broadening access to QDENGA, emphasizing recent strides in launching the vaccine in private and select public programs. "We are proud to announce a strategic manufacturing partnership with Biological E. Limited, which has deep expertise in vaccine manufacturing and longstanding support of public health programs around the world. Together, we will help combat dengue on a global scale by significantly increasing manufacturing capacity for multi-dose vials of QDENGA to drive sustainable access to the vaccine in more endemic countries," Dubin said. 

Dengue fever, a prevalent mosquito-borne viral illness, has witnessed a staggering 30-fold increase in global incidence rates over the last five decades, propelled by urbanization, travel, and climate change. With over 390 million infections reported annually across more than 100 countries, the disease's impact is particularly pronounced in the Americas, South-East Asia, and the Western Pacific, with Asia bearing approximately 70 percent of the global disease burden.

Mahima Datla, Managing Director at Biological E. Limited, lauded the collaboration with Takeda, emphasizing shared values in advancing healthcare and shaping a healthier future. 

Currently available in select European countries, Indonesia, and Thailand for both children and adults in private markets, as well as in private and certain public programs in Argentina and Brazil, QDENGA's availability does not extend to India at present.