Early stage project is to develop a vaccine for Chikungunya, often spread by the same mosquitoes which transmit Zika and Dengue
Zydus Cadila and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company have announced a partnership to tackle chikungunya, an emerging infectious disease. The chikungunya virus is most often spread to people by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, the same vectors that spread dengue and zika. The broad-based agreement includes early stage development to the final commercialisation of the vaccine. There is currently no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat chikungunya virus infection.
Speaking on this key development, Pankaj R Patel, Chairman and Managing Director, Zydus group said, “We have always been committed to working with partners and collaborating to bring affordable therapies and bridge unmet healthcare needs. By partnering with Takeda on this very important research and development initiative and leveraging our development capabilities, we will be taking an all important step to prevent the disease burden which is highly prevalent in developing countries and causes suffering and disability.”
Dr Rahul Singhvi, Chief Operating Officer, Takeda Vaccines said, “Takeda is very pleased to work with Zydus Cadila. We are always open to tackling the world’s most urgent and neglected unmet medical needs together with partners. Our belief is that chikungunya can be prevented by vaccines, and that a vaccine might be licensed more quickly if we can accelerate development with this Zydus partnership.”
Dr Singhvi added, “Takeda is at the center of important vaccine-related activities in global health and emerging infectious diseases. This is another demonstration of Takeda’s major commitment to the health of children in developing countries and elsewhere around the world.”
Terms of the agreement are not disclosed, but it is expected that this partnership will boost access to medicines in the future through this novel partnership.
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