Valneva will provide 40,000 doses of its chikungunya vaccine Ixchiq to French overseas territory La Réunion as part of efforts to curb the spike in disease cases on the island.
Valneva confirmed that French authorities are paying for the supply of doses as part of a national aim to prioritise vaccination in older adults with co-morbidities.
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French biotech Valneva, will send the doses in early April through distribution agreements with Réunion’s wholesalers. In agreement with the island’s local public health agency, more vaccine doses could be made available.
La Réunion has experienced a sharp rise in chikungunya cases this year. Authorities have recorded 8,600 cases since August 2024, though the outbreak is gaining traction, with nearly 3,000 cases registered in the first week of March alone. La Réunion has a population of just under 900,000. As per the 2021 census, 18.7% of the population is over the age of 60.
Chikungunya, caused by its namesake virus, is a mosquito-borne disease mainly found in tropical regions. Symptoms include fever and severe joint pain, which are similar to Dengue and Zika infections, making it harder to diagnose.
Ixchiq is one of two licensed vaccines to prevent the disease caused by chikungunya virus in adults. The other, Bavarian Nordic’s Vimkunya, is currently approved for use in adolescents – though Ixchiq could soon have the same label after a positive recommendation by the European Medicine’s Agency (EMA).
Valneva’s vaccine, which reached market before Vimkunya, generated sales of €3.7m ($4.02) in 2024. Whilst sales for the vaccine were lower-than-expected, the company reported strong overall growth for the past year, with product sales up 13% in 2024 compared to 2023. Valneva also develops vaccines for cholera and a Japanese encephalitis.
Ixchiq is a live-attenuated vaccine that contains a weakened strain of the chikungunya virus. Vimkunya, on the other hand, is a virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine, meaning it works by mimicking the chikungunya virus to trigger an immune response. Both jabs are administered as a single shot.
Access to Ixchiq in low and middle-income countries is supported by a $41.3m partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI). Valneva also has an ongoing license agreement with the Serum Institute of India (SII) to supply its vaccine at an affordable price to markets in low and middle-income regions in Asia.
Due to frequent travel between mainland France and La Réunion, there is a risk of transmission back to France and even to other French overseas territories. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has alerted warned travellers to the popular holiday destination of chikungunya infection risk.
Valneva’s chief medical officer Juan Carlos Jaramillo, said: “Chikungunya outbreaks spread rapidly, so it is crucial to vaccinate as many people as possible to help contain the virus. We have the capacity to supply more doses and will continue working closely with Agence Régionale de Santé La Réunion to manage this outbreak locally and prevent its spread to other regions through international travel.”
