Valneva Expands Chikungunya Vaccine Access in Asia Through Collaboration with Serum Institute of India

Valneva and the Serum Institute of India (SII) have announced a significant collaboration to expand access to Valneva's chikungunya vaccine in Asia. This partnership will see SII making available a stockpile of 100,000 doses of the vaccine to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). This stockpile is intended to serve as an 'investigational ready reserve' for use in clinical trials within the region, potentially offering valuable data on the vaccine's efficacy among local populations.

Additionally, a safety stock of up to 100,000 doses will be directly accessible to CEPI, at CEPI's expense, for potential deployment in response to future chikungunya outbreaks in Asia. Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "Chikungunya continues to pose a troubling and debilitating danger to the world, including in Asia, with climate change threatening to worsen its spread."

Valneva's chikungunya vaccine is notable for being the world’s first and only licensed chikungunya vaccine, currently approved in the U.S., Europe, and Canada for individuals 18 years of age and older. Efforts are underway to extend its approval to individuals 12 years of age and older.

This initiative is part of Valneva's broader strategy, supported by CEPI and the European Union’s Horizon program, to increase the vaccine's accessibility in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). A similar partnership with Brazil’s Instituto Butantan (IB) aims to expand vaccine access in the Americas, with ongoing reviews by the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA).

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, causes symptoms including fever, severe joint and muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash. The disease has seen a rapid spread since 2004, with over 3.7 million cases reported in the Americas between 2013 and 2023. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified chikungunya as a major public health concern, with the potential for increased spread due to climate change.

This collaboration between Valneva and SII represents a critical step forward in combating chikungunya, particularly in Asia, by ensuring the availability of an effective vaccine to those most in need and enhancing regional health security.