QDENGA dengue vaccine to hit India market in 2027; Dr Reddy’s to sell it

India’s first approved dengue vaccine, QDENGA, is expected to become available in the country’s private market in the first half of 2027, with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories set to promote and distribute the vaccine under a new agreement with Japanese drugmaker Takeda.

The vaccine has been approved for people aged 4 to 60 years.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) approved QDENGA’s marketing authorisation in July 2026. The vaccine is not expected to be available immediately and will enter the private market after the required regulatory processes are completed.


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Under the agreement, Dr Reddy’s will handle promotion and distribution of QDENGA for pediatric and adult vaccination in India’s private market. Takeda will retain the rights to promote and distribute the vaccine in the public market.

QDENGA dengue vaccine India: Who can get it and when?

QDENGA has been approved in India for people aged 4 to 60 years.

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

For now, the agreement covers the private market. Takeda said inclusion of QDENGA in India’s public immunisation programme remains a longer-term objective.

The two companies will also work on healthcare-professional engagement and dengue awareness as part of the private-market rollout.

QDENGA vaccine: How many doses and how does it work?

QDENGA, also known as TAK-003, is a live-attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine designed to provide protection against all four dengue virus serotypes.

It uses a DENV-2 backbone along with structural proteins from DENV-1, DENV-3 and DENV-4.

The vaccine is given in two doses, three months apart.

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Takeda said its global clinical programme for QDENGA included more than 60,000 participants across eight dengue-endemic countries.

The company's seven-year Phase 3 TIDES study reported overall efficacy across all four dengue virus serotypes through seven years. These findings relate to the clinical programme conducted by Takeda and are not a guarantee of protection for every vaccinated individual.

Why dengue vaccination is a focus in India

Dengue cases have increased in India over the past two decades, according to data cited by Dr Reddy's.

The company said reported cases have risen 11-fold over 20 years. It also cited a nationwide surveillance study by the Indian Council of Medical Research’s Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, which found all four dengue virus serotypes circulating across multiple parts of India.

According to the study cited by DRL, 1 in 14 patients had infections involving multiple dengue serotypes at the same time.

Dengue cases can occur throughout the year in India, making prevention and early management a continuing public-health concern.

M.V. Ramana, CEO - Global Generics, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, said, “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.”

Dr Mahender Nayak, Head of Intercontinental Markets, International Business Unit, Takeda, said, “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. 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.”

QDENGA global availability

Takeda said QDENGA has been approved in 43 countries since 2022, including India.

More than 32 million doses have been distributed through public and private programmes in countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam, as well as parts of Latin America and Europe, according to the company.

The World Health Organization has recommended QDENGA without pre-vaccination screening in high-endemic countries. The vaccine is also included in the WHO List of Prequalified Vaccines, according to Takeda.