Words by GOLD newsdesk
The world’s first chikungunya vaccine has been approved in the UK, offering new protection against the mosquito-borne virus as cases surge in endemic regions.
The single-dose jab, developed by French pharmaceutical firm Valneva SE, has been granted marketing authorisation by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The vaccine is currently approved for those 18 years old and above.
The approval follows strong Phase 3 trial results, which showed a rapid and robust immune response in 4,000 participants. Data also suggests immunity lasts at least three years across all adult age groups. The vaccine is currently approved for those 18 years old and above.
“This latest approval is further recognition of [the vaccine’s] strong product profile and the medical need for a chikungunya vaccine,” said Juan Carlos Jaramillo, Chief Medical Officer, Valneva, in a press release. The UK is the fourth country to approve Valneva’s preventative solution following the US, Europe and Canada.
The nod comes amid an ongoing outbreak in India, where the virus has been endemic since re-emerging in 2005. UK travellers are among the country’s largest visitor groups, with 920,000 trips made in 2023. Illustrating the risk, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued a travel notice following a spike in cases in Maharashtra and Telangana.
“It is critical to ensure UK travellers have access to this vaccine,” Jaramillo emphasised, “not only for their protection when travelling to India or other chikungunya endemic countries but also to prevent potential chikungunya transmission when returning to the UK.”
Efforts are also underway to expand access to the preventative solution in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where outbreaks are frequent. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which has backed the vaccine’s development, recently expanded its partnership with Valneva through a $41.3m EU-funded grant to support wider distribution.
Dr Richard Hatchett, Chief Executive, CEPI, welcomed the UK approval but warned that more needed to be done: “In a warming world, mosquito-borne diseases like chikungunya are causing more frequent and severe outbreaks around the world, so it is vital that we keep people safe from this debilitating illness.” He continued to say: “The fight is not over. Our work now focusses on expanding access to vaccine doses, at an affordable price, in those endemic regions.”
To accelerate access, Valneva has signed a licensing deal with the Serum Institute of India, one of the world’s largest vaccine manufacturers, ensuring priority supply to LMICs. A separate agreement with Brazil’s Instituto Butantan aims to deliver a local version for Latin America. Brazil is currently the epicentre of chikungunya in the Americas, recording over 1.6 million cases since 2016.
Chikungunya, spread by Aedes mosquitoes, causes fever, severe joint pain and fatigue. While rarely fatal, symptoms can persist for months or even years. Since 2004, the virus has spread rapidly, with cases now reported in over 110 countries.
