Newest Chikungunya Vaccine Candidate's Benefits Are Measurable

As 2024 comes to a close, chikungunya virus (CHIKV) outbreaks have become prevalent in many tropical regions, particularly in Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia.

For the first time, the World Health Organization confirmed mosquito-transmitted CHIKV outbreaks have been identified in 115 countries, many located in the Region of the Americas.

As of December 19, 2024, the Pan American Health Organization reported over 421,000 CHIKV cases and 211 related fatalities in the Americas this year. 

To address this serious disease, Bavarian Nordic A/S recently announced that the European Medicines Agency had validated its marketing authorization application for CHIKV VLP, the Company's vaccine candidate for immunization to prevent disease caused by CHIKV infection in individuals 12 years of age and older. 

This application supports the vaccine's potential approval by the European Commission in the first half of 2025.

Previously, Bavarian Nordic completed the submission of a Biologics License Application to the U.S. FDA in June 2024, and it is also expecting approval in 2025.

To clarify the benefits of this adjuvanted VLP-based vaccine candidate, Vax-Before-Travel spoke with Peter Costa, the Medical Director for Bavarian Nordic in North America. Costa highlighted three benefits, which are as follows:

 "The age range for our vaccine candidate addresses an unmet need for 12-17-year-olds. Our clinical data did include 12+, so that's part of the reason for the accelerated review by the U.S. FDA."

"Regarding our vaccine's onset of protection, which is an essential consideration for international travelers visiting at-risk destinations. Many travelers wait very close to their departure date to seek advice, so our vaccine's onset of protection is an important attribute."

"The data presented – about 50% of individuals saw an immune response as early as one week after vaccination."

"Then, by day 15, if you look at our 12-64 population, you will see a response rate of 97%. The primary endpoint was day 22; that's where we saw 98% of the 12-64-year-olds. But even on day 15, we saw 97%."

"Two weeks after vaccination, that's a very rapid onset of protection and a measurable benefit for last-minute travelers."

"Additionally, this vaccine will be delivered to providers in pre-filled syringes. This ease of use and potential reduction in administration errors is important for the travel clinic, pharmacy, and the customer," added Costa.

As of December 19, 2024, one FDA-approved live attenuated chikungunya vaccine is available at travel clinics and pharmacies in the U.S. and various countries. Valneva SE's IXCHIQ® monovalent, single-dose, live-attenuated chikungunya vaccine.

Valneva and the Serum Institute of India recently announced an exclusive license agreement that will enable the supply of IXCHIQ in Asia in 2025.