The chikungunya virus has already spread to more than 110 countries and the risk of chikungunya spreading in Europe is relatively high. Chikungunya is transmitted from person to person by mosquitoes of the Aedes genus. The disease manifests itself after an incubation of four to seven days on average.
Valneva, the Franco-Austrian manufacturer, announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has technically validated the application for marketing authorization for a vaccine against chikungunya. This preventive vaccine, the first in the world, had already been approved in the United States on November 10. It is intended for people aged 18 and over who are at increased risk of exposure to the virus.
Valneva is delighted with the technical acceptance by the EMA of its vaccine, currently called VLA 1553. This green light is a prerequisite for the possible availability of the vaccine to patients within 150 days, instead of 210 usually.
The vaccine on which the Nantes biotech is working is composed of a single dose. In the United States, it was marketed under the name Ixchiq. The global market for chikungunya vaccines is estimated to be worth more than $500 million per year by 2032.
The vaccine is therefore the only means of control because there is no specific curative treatment for this virus.
 Frank Verain
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29/11/2023 | 
