Takeda is investing US$132 million to build a plant in Germany that can make 50 million doses of its dengue vaccine a year. — Photo courtesy of the company

HCM CITY — Takeda Pharmaceutical, a Japanese drug manufacturer, said Tuesday that its vaccine for dengue fever has been approved in Indonesia.

This will be the first global launch of a vaccine by a Japanese company.

Takeda has already applied for approval of its dengue vaccine in Asia and South America, as well as Europe.

The company aims to market the vaccine in about 30 countries and generate annual sales of $1.6 billion.

Dengue fever is an infectious viral disease, spread mainly by mosquitoes, which is endemic in tropical regions and infects 390 million people and around 20,000 deaths worldwide each year, according to the World Health Organization.

Takeda's vaccine, which takes two shots, is intended for people between the ages of 6 and 45 and is available regardless of prior exposure to the virus.

No major side effects have been observed. Individuals do not require a prior test to receive the shot.

The pharmaceutical firm said in a news release that its vaccine can prevent 84 per cent of hospitalised dengue cases and 61 per cent of symptomatic cases.

Takeda recently presented long-term safety and efficacy results from the Tetravalent Immunisation against Dengue Efficacy Study trial through 54 months of follow-up, which validated the vaccine’s efficacy and safety profile.   

Takeda is investing US$132 million to build a plant in Germany to manufacture 50 million doses of the vaccine -- enough for 25 million people -- a year, including contract production.

It will sell the vaccine worldwide and plans to apply for approval of its vaccine in the United States.

Takeda is also developing vaccines for other infectious diseases as well and is in clinical trials for a Zika vaccine, which is also transmitted by mosquitoes. — VNS