By Atoyebi Nike
US health regulators have suspended the license of Ixchiq, a French-made vaccine against the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus, following reports of serious side effects, the drugmaker Valneva announced on Monday.
Ixchiq, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023, is one of only two vaccines authorized against chikungunya. The suspension, effective immediately, follows four new cases of severe adverse reactions, three involving patients aged between 70 and 82.
Valneva said it remains committed to providing global access to the vaccine despite the setback. “As we determine potential next steps, and as the clear threat of chikungunya continues to escalate globally, Valneva remains fully committed to maintaining access to our vaccine as a global health tool,” Chief Executive Thomas Lingelbach stated.
The European Medicines Agency had already begun reviewing Ixchiq earlier this year amid concerns about its safety in older populations. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also raised alarm, warning in July of a possible major epidemic, citing similarities to a 2005 outbreak that spread from the Indian Ocean to other regions and infected nearly half a million people.
Chikungunya, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, causes symptoms similar to dengue and Zika, including high fever and severe joint pain. While rarely fatal, the disease poses heightened risks for infants and the elderly. Climate change is expanding the range of the mosquitoes, with Europe recording 27 chikungunya outbreaks so far this year its highest ever, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
