Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, through its Indian subsidiary Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India, and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories have entered into an exclusive distribution agreement to promote and distribute Takeda’s dengue vaccine QDENGA® across India’s private market for paediatric and adult vaccination.

The vaccine is anticipated to become available in the first half of 2027, subject to completion of applicable processes with local authorities.

The collaboration combines Takeda’s global expertise in dengue and vaccines with Dr. Reddy’s healthcare network and commercial reach across India. 

The companies will undertake healthcare-professional engagement, disease awareness, promotion and distribution of QDENGA in the private market, in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.

The agreement follows the approval of QDENGA’s marketing authorisation by India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in July 2026 for individuals aged 4–60 years. The approval makes QDENGA India’s first approved dengue vaccine.

Takeda said private-market availability through Dr. Reddy’s would provide a pathway for eligible individuals to access dengue vaccination, while inclusion in India’s public immunisation programme remains a longer-term ambition.

Dengue continues to pose a significant public-health challenge in India, with reported cases increasing 11-fold over the past two decades, according to the companies. 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 to DENV-4—are co-circulating across multiple regions in India.

The study also reported that approximately one in 14 patients had concurrent infections with multiple dengue serotypes. With dengue cases occurring throughout the year across India, prevention and management remain important public-health priorities.

Dr. Mahender Nayak, Head of Intercontinental Markets, International Business Unit, Takeda, said the company was committed to supporting India’s evolving healthcare needs and expanding access to dengue vaccination.

“Takeda is committed to supporting India’s evolving healthcare needs and expanding access to dengue vaccination. We welcome the recent Parliamentary Committee on Health’s recommendation to consider dengue vaccine for the Universal Immunization Program. This reflects the growing recognition of dengue as a significant public health challenge,” he said.

“In parallel, our private-market collaboration with Dr. Reddy’s will help enable timely private-market access for eligible individuals once QDENGA becomes available in India,” Nayak added.

M.V. Ramana, CEO – Global Generics, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, said the introduction of India’s first approved dengue vaccine represented an important development for the country’s healthcare landscape.

“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. Through our collaboration with Takeda, we look forward to making QDENGA available to eligible individuals and contributing to efforts aimed at addressing the country’s dengue burden,” he said.