Chikungunya in Delhi: Drug firm Zydus Cadila announces partnership with Takeda for vaccine!

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: As Delhi grapples with the outbreak of mosquito-borne diseases chikungunya and dengue, there seems to be no respite from the health crisis.

As the government struggles to release itself from this tangled web, drug firm Zydus Cadila today announced partnership with Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd to develop a vaccine for chikungunya.

According to the latest figures, 1,568 cases of chikungunya were reported in just one week till September 17 – an increase of nearly 150 percent over the preceding week.

Zydus Group Chairman and MD Pankaj R Patel said: "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."

Cadila Healthcare said 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.

"Takeda is 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," Takeda Vaccines Chief Operating Officer Rahul Singhvi said.

(With PTI inputs)