India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization has officially approved QDENGA, a dengue vaccine developed by Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical, marking the first time a vaccine for the virus has been cleared for use in the country. The approval, announced by the company on Monday, clears the vaccine for use in individuals aged 4 to 60 years.
Takeda expressed pride in the milestone, noting that the regulatory clearance comes at a critical global juncture as reported dengue cases continue to rise worldwide and transmission patterns become increasingly unpredictable. As one of the world's largest dengue-endemic countries, India carries a substantial portion of the global burden of the disease. The pharmaceutical company emphasized that this approval represents a vital step forward in strengthening localized dengue prevention efforts for the communities most severely impacted by the virus.
India consistently records a high volume of dengue cases annually, with official government data showing that the South Asian nation recorded 121,824 cases and 131 deaths last year. The disease, which is spread by Aedes mosquitoes and driven by four distinct but related viruses, typically causes high fever, severe body pain, and can be fatal in severe cases.
