Japan’s Takeda has entered into a new manufacturing partnership with Hyderabad-based Biological E. Limited (BE) in India to boost production capacity for its dengue fever vaccine Qdenga. This collaboration aims to accelerate access to Qdenga and brings Takeda closer to its goal of producing 100 million doses of the vaccine annually by the end of the decade.
Under the agreement, BE will manufacture multi-dose vials of Qdenga, with the capacity to produce 50 million doses per year. These multi-dose vials offer advantages for national immunization programs, including reduced packaging and storage costs compared to single-dose vials.
Currently, Takeda produces Qdenga at its facility in Singen, Germany, and through a partnership with contract manufacturer IDT Biologika GmbH. With BE’s added manufacturing power, Takeda expects to reach its target of 100 million annual doses by 2030 at the latest.
Gary Dubin, head of Takeda’s global vaccine business unit, praised BE’s “deep expertise” in vaccine manufacturing and its track record of supporting public health programs worldwide. This positions BE as a valuable partner to help meet global demand for Qdenga.
So far, Qdenga has launched in several endemic countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Brazil, and Argentina, as well as certain European markets.
Takeda reported strong initial demand in private markets during its recent earnings presentation. The vaccine has also gained traction in government immunization programs, such as in Brazil, and Takeda is engaging with other endemic regions to expand access through national programs.
