The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a single-dose chikungunya vaccine developed by Denmark-based Bavarian Nordic A/S, a global vaccine company, for people age 12 years and older.
Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the chikungunya virus. The virus has been identified in more than 110 countries with confirmation occurring in more than 50 countries over the past five years.
Symptoms include headache, fever, fatigue, rash, and severe and incapacitating joint pain. There were more than 200 deaths reported worldwide last year and 620,000 cases. Of those who recover, 30 percent to 40 percent develop chronic symptoms that last for months or years. Data suggests the disease is severely underreported and often misdiagnosed as dengue fever.
“The approval of our chikungunya vaccine is a testament to our unwavering commitment to addressing unmet medical needs and protecting communities worldwide,” Paul Chaplin, Bavarian Nordic president and CEO, said. “As climate change continues to expand the reach of mosquito-borne illnesses like chikungunya, this milestone underscores the importance of cutting-edge solutions to safeguard travelers and vulnerable populations.”
VIMKUNYA is a vaccine for prevention of the disease. The FDA requires confirmatory efficacy studies and additional clinical studies as part of post-marketing commitments.