Valneva Withdraws Chikungunya Vaccine Applications in the U.S.
On January 19, 2026, Valneva SE (Nasdaq: VALN; Euronext Paris: VLA), a leading specialty vaccine company, announced its decision to voluntarily withdraw the Biologics License Application (BLA) and Investigational New Drug (IND) application for its chikungunya vaccine, IXCHIQ®, in the United States. This move follows the recent suspension of the vaccine license by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2025.
Details Surrounding the Withdrawal
Valneva's withdrawal comes as the FDA placed the IND on clinical hold pending an investigation into a newly reported foreign Serious Adverse Event (SAE). The company is currently awaiting further information regarding its formal response to the suspension and actively pursuing additional details to clarify the adverse event.
The SAE occurred outside of the U.S. involving a younger adult who received three concomitant vaccines, including IXCHIQ®. Although this case might be plausibly linked to the vaccine, causality has not yet been confirmed.
Future Plans for IXCHIQ®
As there are currently no clinical studies involving IXCHIQ® actively vaccinating participants, Valneva intends to advance its planned post-marketing clinical activities. The company continues to communicate with relevant regulatory authorities and remains committed to maintaining the highest safety standards.
IXCHIQ® primarily targets travelers to regions where the chikungunya virus is endemic, including tropical and subtropical areas in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Valneva believes that the vaccine’s benefit-risk profile remains favorable, especially for individuals living in endemic and outbreak settings.
Understanding Chikungunya Virus
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is transmitted through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes, leading to symptoms such as fever, severe joint and muscle pain, headache, and rash. Joint pain can be debilitating and may persist for weeks or even years.
- Since its re-emergence in 2004, CHIKV has been identified in over 110 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
- From 2013 to 2023, over 3.7 million cases of chikungunya have been reported in the Americas.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has categorized chikungunya as a major public health problem.
About Valneva SE
Valneva SE is dedicated to the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative prophylactic vaccines for infectious diseases, addressing unmet medical needs. The company has successfully advanced multiple vaccines from research and development to approval and currently markets three proprietary travel vaccines.
With revenues from its growing commercial business, Valneva plans to further enhance its vaccine pipeline, which includes a Lyme disease vaccine candidate developed in partnership with Pfizer, alongside a Shigella vaccine candidate and others targeting various global public health threats. More information about Valneva can be accessed at www.valneva.com.
Media and Investor Relations Contacts
For further inquiries, please contact:
- Laetitia Bachelot-Fontaine
VP Global Communications & European Investor Relations
M: +33 (0)6 4516 7099
laetitia.bachelot-fontaine@valneva.com - Joshua Drumm, Ph.D.
VP Global Investor Relations
M: +001 917 815 4520
joshua.drumm@valneva.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This article includes forward-looking statements regarding Valneva’s operations, including implications related to regulatory reviews and the product lifecycle of IXCHIQ®. These statements are based on current expectations, subject to various risks and uncertainties that may result in actual outcomes differing significantly from those anticipated.