France halts Valneva’s chikungunya vaccine use in seniors

French authorities have suspended the usage of Ixchiq in folks aged 65 years and older pending additional investigation. Credit score: cagkansayin through Getty Photos.

French well being authorities have suspended the usage of Valneva’s chikungunya vaccine Ixchiq in adults aged 65 and older after severe adversarial occasions – together with one loss of life – have been reported throughout an ongoing vaccination marketing campaign on the islands of La Reunion and Mayotte.

Valneva confirmed that France’s nationwide public well being company, the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS), up to date its suggestion “pending additional investigation”. This adopted the hospitalisation of three aged sufferers, everywhere in the age of 80 and with preexisting well being situations. One among these sufferers later died.

In response, HAS is suspending the administration of Ixchiq to seniors whereas persevering with to suggest vaccination for adults aged 18 to 64 residing within the outbreak zones. Valneva mentioned it’s “actively working with regulators on subsequent steps”.

Shares in Valneva fell sharply following the 25 April announcement, dropping 15.9% when the markets opened on 28 April.

Because the begin of 2025, La Reunion has recorded roughly 40,000 confirmed chikungunya instances. Valneva has delivered round 40,000 doses of Ixchiq to assist the French authorities’s emergency vaccination marketing campaign, which started earlier in 2025 throughout La Reunion and Mayotte.

The French regulatory growth comes as US authorities are additionally scrutinising the vaccine’s security profile. The US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) is investigating 5 instances of cardiac and neurologic hospitalisations in folks aged 65 and older who obtained Ixchiq. The CDC at the moment advises travellers heading to chikungunya-affected areas to seek the advice of with healthcare suppliers in regards to the vaccine’s potential dangers and advantages, emphasising age, vacation spot, and private well being components.

Ixchiq secured accelerated approval from the US Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2023. Nevertheless, the vaccine generated “slower-than-expected” gross sales of €3.7m in 2024, in line with Valneva’s 2024 earnings. Within the first 9 months of 2024, Valneva mentioned that gross sales within the US began sluggish, forcing an organization overview of gross sales steerage for the vaccine.

In February 2025, competitor Bavarian Nordic obtained an FDA nod for its chikungunya vaccine Vimkunya. Bavarian Nordic already has a bonus over Valneva as its product is indicated for people aged 12 years and older, whereas Ixchiq can at the moment solely be utilized in adults. Valneva submitted a label enlargement request to the FDA in November 2024 to increase Ixchiq’s use to adolescents.

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne illness that causes fever and joint ache. Whereas most sufferers get well inside per week, some develop extended joint ache, and a small share expertise extreme issues, together with multi-organ failure. The virus is primarily present in tropical and subtropical areas, although it has been detected in elements of Europe, significantly in southern areas the place mosquito vectors are current.

Valneva’s chief medical officer Juan Carlos Jaramillo mentioned: “Valneva is dedicated to the very best requirements of security and agrees on the significance of constant the stringent security surveillance protocols which might be in place.

“We admire the precautionary resolution of the authorities whereas investigations stay ongoing and within the context of the energetic vaccination marketing campaign.”