The World Health Organization (WHO) said it had prequalified the second dengue vaccine, TAK-003 as a new weapon in the fight against mosquito-borne illness prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions.
The new vaccine for dengue received prequalification from the World Health Organization (WHO) on 10 May 2024. TAK-003 is the second dengue vaccine to be prequalified by WHO.
Dengue is a vector-borne disease transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Severe dengue is a potentially lethal complication that can develop from dengue infections.
WHO said TAK-003, developed by Takeda, is a live-attenuated vaccine containing weakened versions of the four serotypes of the virus that cause dengue.
The health body recommends using TAK-003 in children aged 6–16 years in settings with high dengue burden and transmission intensity, adding that the vaccine should be administered in a 2-dose schedule with a 3-month interval between doses.
WHO Director for Regulation and Prequalification, Dr Rogerio Gaspar, said, “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.
“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 official said 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 due to climate change and urbanization,” Gasper said.
The prequalification of TAK-003 comes alongside the existing WHO-approved CYD-TDV vaccine developed by Sanofi Pasteur.
