As dengue cases surge worldwide, an Indian vaccine candidate has entered Phase III trials, raising hopes for one of the world’s first single-dose shots against the mosquito-borne disease.
Final Phase Testing Underway
Indian pharmaceutical firm Panacea Biotec has begun final-stage trials of its dengue vaccine candidate, DengiAll, after nearly 15 years of development.
More than 10,000 volunteers across India are participating in the study, which is being overseen by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
If results are favourable, the vaccine could be rolled out as early as next year.
“We will try to get this vaccine out there as soon as possible,” said Syed Khalid Ali, chief scientific officer at Panacea.
Rising Global Threat
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly half of the world’s population is now at risk of dengue, with an estimated 100 to 400 million infections annually.
India alone has recorded more than one million cases and at least 1,500 deaths since 2021.
Experts warn that climate change, rising temperatures and rapid urbanisation are accelerating the spread of Aedes mosquitoes, which transmit the virus.
Dengue is now considered hyperendemic in India, with all four virus serotypes circulating simultaneously — making vaccine development especially challenging.
Scientific Challenge and Hope
Developing a dengue vaccine is complex because immunity to one strain does not protect against others, and secondary infections can be more severe.
Most existing vaccine candidates require multiple doses.
If approved, DengiAll would become one of the first single-dose dengue vaccines globally, following Brazil’s recent approval of a similar shot.
It would also be the first dengue vaccine available for public use in India.
Currently, the WHO recommends only one dengue vaccine — Qdenga, produced by Japan’s Takeda — which requires two doses and is not yet available in India.
Panacea’s vaccine is based on a tetravalent strain originally developed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Awaiting Final Results
Experts stress that Phase III results will be critical in determining whether the vaccine meets global standards for safety and effectiveness.
Oxford University fellow Shahid Jameel warned that dengue incidence could rise by 50–75% by 2050 if climate trends continue unchecked.
“Only Phase III testing and follow-up will show whether we truly have a safe and effective dengue vaccine,” he said.
“It is still early days, but there is hope for the future.”
If successful, an affordable, Indian-made dengue vaccine could play a key role in large-scale immunisation efforts across lower- and middle-income countries.
