Valneva Provides Update Following European Medicines Agency Announcement on Use of IXCHIQ® in Elderly

Core Points - The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has initiated a review of Valneva's chikungunya vaccine IXCHIQ due to reports of serious adverse events (SAEs) in elderly individuals, leading to a temporary suspension of its use for those over 65 years old [1][2] - A total of 17 SAEs, including two deaths, have been reported globally among elderly individuals with significant underlying medical conditions [2] - The exact cause of these SAEs and their relationship to the vaccine remain undetermined, and healthcare professionals are reminded not to administer IXCHIQ to individuals with weakened immune systems [3] Company Overview - Valneva SE is a specialty vaccine company focused on developing, manufacturing, and commercializing vaccines for infectious diseases, addressing unmet medical needs [9] - The company has a strong track record of advancing multiple vaccines from early research and development to approvals, currently marketing three proprietary travel vaccines [10] - Valneva is also developing vaccine candidates for Lyme disease, Zika virus, and other global public health threats [10] Industry Context - Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne disease that has been identified in over 110 countries, with significant economic and medical burdens expected to grow due to climate change [8] - Between 2013 and 2023, more than 3.7 million chikungunya cases were reported in the Americas, highlighting the disease as a major public health concern [8]