UK approves Valneva’s chikungunya vaccine Ixchiq

U.K. – Valneva’s single-dose chikungunya vaccine, Ixchiq, has received approval from the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

This decision allows the vaccine to be used in adults and marks an important milestone in the global fight against chikungunya.

Following this approval, Valneva is also seeking to expand Ixchiq’s use to adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the US, EU, and Canada, with plans to submit a similar application in the UK.

This approval positions Ixchiq as a strong contender in the race to become the first chikungunya vaccine available for younger age groups in the EU, alongside Bavarian Nordic’s vaccine, Vimkunya.

Bavarian Nordic recently received a marketing recommendation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for Vimkunya, bringing the two vaccines closer to wide availability.

Valneva’s vaccine is expected to generate US $283 million in sales by 2030, according to GlobalData. The approval in the UK follows similar authorizations by the US FDA in November 2023, the EMA in July 2024, and Health Canada in June 2024.

The MHRA’s decision was based on data from two clinical trials involving 4,500 adults. The studies revealed that 99% of participants who received Ixchiq developed the required antibody levels within a month, compared to none in the placebo group.

Remarkably, 97% of vaccinated individuals maintained these antibody levels even two years after receiving the shot.

Chikungunya, a mosquito-borne disease, causes fever and joint pain. While most patients recover within a week, some experience prolonged joint pain or severe complications, such as multi-organ failure.

The virus is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions but has also been detected in parts of southern Europe, where mosquito vectors are present.

Julian Beach, interim executive director of healthcare quality and access at the MHRA, emphasized that the approval of Ixchiq aligns with the UK’s broader efforts to enhance pandemic preparedness.

He noted that while chikungunya is primarily endemic to Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Americas, climate change and global travel increase the risk of the disease spreading to other regions.

As part of the UK’s pandemic preparedness strategy, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) launched the Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre (VDEC) in Porton Down, Wiltshire, in August 2023.

This facility houses over 200 scientists working on nearly 100 projects. Additionally, efforts to improve pandemic response include a proposed global treaty on pandemic preparedness, first suggested in 2021 by a coalition of world leaders, including the UK.