The Health Ministry committee responsible for recommending drug purchases for Brazil’s large public health system has asked Takeda Pharma for more information about its dengue fever vaccine — most notably the price and the company’s ability to supply an adequate number of doses.
The discussion has taken on added importance in Brazil as the number of dengue fever cases and deaths continues to rise. In 2022, the country had a record 1,016 dengue deaths and more than 1.4 million probable cases. According to the latest official data, 2023 has seen 1.6 million probable cases and 1,000 deaths by the end of October — indicating that the annual record is likely to be surpassed.
Federal health regulator Anvisa approved Takeda’s Qdenga vaccine in March, but it is up to the government to decide whether to purchase and distribute the vaccines as a matter of policy. Sabin, a large private laboratory, currently offers the two-dose regimen for BRL 836 (USD 171), more than 60 percent of Brazil’s monthly minimum wage.
A document released in early October by the National Committee for the Implementation of Technology in the Brazilian Public Health System (Conitec) shows that Takeda has offered to sell its dengue fever vaccine to the government for BRL 170 (USD 34) per dose. This is significantly less than what private vendors charge, but still more expensive than Covid vaccines, for example. In 2021, Pfizer sold...
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