Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. will invest more than €100 million to build a new manufacturing plant in Singen, Germany for its dengue vaccine candidate.

“This manufacturing plant investment reinforces Takeda’s strong support for our global vaccine strategy in general, and dengue in particular. The new plant will provide millions of people with access to a medicine that addresses a huge unmet medical need. It underlines our commitment to improve the lives of people worldwide,” said Dr. Thomas Wozniewski, global manufacturing and supply officer at Takeda.

“Our colleagues in Singen have vast experience in lyophilisation technology, which is key for the manufacturing process of Takeda’s dengue vaccine finished product,” Mr. Wozniewski added. Initial construction activities will start immediately, and the facility should be ready for production in 2019.

In September, Takeda initiated the Tetravalent Immunization against Dengue Efficacy Study (TIDES), a Phase III double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, evaluating the efficacy of the vaccine candidate to protect against dengue fever. The study is also evaluating vaccine safety and immunogenicity, with two doses of the vaccine candidate or placebo.

Dr. Rajeev Venkayya, president of Takeda Vaccines, said, “This dengue vaccine production facility is another strong indication of Takeda’s long-term commitment to vaccines. The progress of the dengue TIDES clinical trial, our partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to eradicate polio, the recent initiation of the world’s first field efficacy trial for a norovirus vaccine, and our work with the U.S. Government to develop a Zika vaccine, together demonstrate how Takeda is dedicated to developing and providing vaccines to protect people in need wherever they are.”