Dr Reddy’s Laboratories said on September 18 that it had entered into an agreement with Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda Pharmaceutical to promote and distribute its Qdenga dengue vaccine in India. Following the announcement, Dr Reddy’s shares gained more than 2% in morning trade, making the stock the top gainer on the Nifty. The partnership comes months after India’s drug regulator approved Qdenga for use in both children and adults, making it the first dengue vaccine approved for use in the country. Dr Reddy’s said the vaccine is expected to be launched in India during the first half of 2027. Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection and one of the world’s fastest-growing vector-borne diseases. According to the World Health Organization, 2024 saw a record 14.4 million dengue cases and 11,201 deaths globally. India reported 232,425 cases and 233 deaths during the year. Qdenga is administered as two 0.5 ml doses given three months apart. The vaccine can be administered regardless of whether an individual has previously contracted dengue, eliminating the need for pre-vaccination screening. Dr Reddy’s said the launch of India’s first approved dengue vaccine would mark an important development for the country’s healthcare sector. The company added that, through its collaboration with Takeda, it aims to make Qdenga available to eligible individuals and support efforts to address India’s dengue burden.

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