WHO prequalifies new dengue vaccine by Japanese company

A new vaccine for dengue has received prequalification from the World Health Organization (WHO).

TAK-003 is the second dengue vaccine to be prequalified by WHO. Developed by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company based in Tokyo, Japan, it is a live-attenuated vaccine containing weakened versions of the four serotypes of the virus that cause dengue.

WHO recommends TAK-003 in children aged 6 to 16 years old in settings with high dengue burden and transmission intensity. The vaccine should be administered in a 2-dose schedule with a 3-month interval between doses.

“The prequalification of TAK-003 is an important step in the expansion of global access to dengue vaccines, as it is now eligible for procurement by UN agencies including UNICEF and PAHO,” Rogerio Gaspar, WHO director for Regulation and Prequalification said.

“With only two dengue vaccines to date prequalified, we look forward to more vaccine developers coming forward for assessment so that we can ensure vaccines reach all communities who need it.”

The WHO prequalification list also includes the CYD-TDV vaccine against dengue developed by Sanofi Pasteur.

Dengue is a vector-borne disease transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Severe dengue is a potentially lethal complication which can develop from dengue infections.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) recorded the outbreak of dengue fever in Sokoto State in November 2023.

The incidence has 71 suspected cases, 13 confirmed cases and no deaths.

The majority of the suspected cases reported fall between the ages of 21 to 40 years.

It is estimated that there are over 100-400 million cases of dengue worldwide each year and 3.8 billion people living in dengue-endemic countries, most of which are in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

The largest number of dengue cases reported was in 2023 with the WHO Region of the Americas reporting 4.5 million cases and 2300 deaths. Dengue cases are likely to increase and expand geographically because of climate change and urbanisation.