Takeda Pharmaceutical is planning to introduce its dengue fever vaccine to the Japanese market, targeting business travelers heading to Southeast Asia and Latin America where the mosquito-borne disease is endemic.
The vaccine represents a milestone as the first internationally marketed vaccine developed by a Japanese pharmaceutical company. Already available across Southeast Asia, Latin America, Europe and other regions, Takeda initiated late-stage clinical trials in Japan in January, though CEO Christophe Weber indicated the company hasn’t established a timeline for seeking regulatory approval in its home market.
According to World Health Organization estimates, dengue infects approximately 390 million people annually worldwide. The disease, which typically causes fever, headache, and muscle and joint pain, has no effective treatment. Some cases progress to potentially fatal dengue hemorrhagic fever.
Climate change has expanded the mosquito habitat into new regions, including Japan, where dengue-carrying mosquitoes are now present. This has increased the risk of domestic infections, with at least one documented case involving a patient with no international travel history.
Takeda’s vaccine has received WHO recommendation for children of specific age groups. The company, Japan’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturer, has submitted the vaccine for U.S. regulatory approval and aims to reach annual production capacity of 100 million doses.
The global vaccine market remains dominated by Western pharmaceutical companies, which control approximately 80% of production. French drugmaker Sanofi currently markets a competing dengue vaccine, but it’s limited to individuals with prior exposure to the virus.
