Latest news with #DerekWallace
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New vaccine offers hope in fight against disease that threatens half of world's population: 'Ensuring a sufficient vaccine supply is critical'
India's high burden of dengue cases may soon see some relief thanks to a new vaccine from Japanese company Takeda, The Times of India reported. Dengue fever is transmitted through mosquito bites that cause flu-like symptoms such as a high fever, rash, vomiting, and joint, bone, or muscle pain, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Those symptoms can also become more severe during reinfection. Thankfully, the QDENGA® dengue vaccine will be available in India by 2026. However, it's not the first-ever dengue fever vaccine to reach the market. The vaccine Dengvaxia® was approved in 2019 by the FDA but is no longer available in the United States, even in endemic areas like Puerto Rico. That same vaccine wasn't useful for those without a past dengue infection, either. In contrast, Qdenga will have better availability to prevent outbreaks. "Our vaccine has been approved in 40 countries, and we anticipate the vaccine will be licensed in India in 2026," Derek Wallace, Takeda's global vaccine business unit president, told The Times of India. "Given that dengue threatens half the world's population, ensuring a sufficient vaccine supply is critical," Wallace said. This vaccine isn't the only way to fight this disease, as a warming climate — an issue directly caused by human behavior — has already fostered an environment for the disease to thrive. According to the World Health Organization, rising atmospheric heat and humidity have increased outbreak numbers in recent years. Mosquitos are increasingly spreading the disease as the overheating planet makes it easier for them to survive and reproduce more. Massive storms and flooding can produce lots of standing water where one mosquito can lay as many as 50 to 200 eggs at one time. Poor sanitation, such as "garbage lasagnas," can give off heat or maintain standing water, providing breeding grounds for them to thrive. The Stanford Report discusses the link between mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and malaria and trash in Kenya. However, reducing landfill material and heat-trapping carbon exhaust is within human reach to solve through recycling, home/vehicle electrification, and solar conversion. Working toward a cooler and cleaner planet also helps maintain safe vaccine storage. Disasters can shut down facilities that keep vaccines cool and make access hard for those in remote areas. Therefore, communities, stakeholders, and vaccine producers working together are essential to world health. Do you worry about the quality of the air inside your home? Yes — often Yes — but only sometimes Only when it's bad outside No — I never do Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Dengue vaccine 'Qdenga' to launch in India next year
Representative image NEW DELHI: Japanese major Takeda plans to launch its dengue vaccine, Qdenga, in India next year, partnering with Hyderabad-based Biological E (Bio E) to align with the 'Make-in-India' initiative. Having recognised dengue as a "global health challenge," the over $23 bn company will adopt a "tiered pricing model for its first global vaccine to maximise access'', Derek Wallace, president, global vaccine business unit, Takeda, told TOI in an exclusive interview. The company, with focus on oncology, rare diseases and gastroenterology, negotiates lower prices for centralised govt procurement on a country-by-country basis, and a similar strategy will be implemented in India, he said. Elaborating on the regulatory process, he said, it "is ongoing and on track", with clinical trials underway to generate local safety data. "We've already submitted a comprehensive data package that supported registration in 40 countries and we anticipate the vaccine will be licensed in India in 2026'', he added. "We plan to introduce the vaccine in both private and public sectors simultaneously. The initial conversation aligns with WHO guidelines for implementing public programs for the pediatric population. However, we are introducing the vaccine in the private sector for both pediatric and adult populations'", Wallace added. Qdenga is the company's first globally developed and marketed vaccine. It is a tetravalent live-attenuated vaccine targeting all four dengue serotypes, and has a two-dose regimen with a three-month interval.
