Valneva’s chikungunya vaccine suspension gets lifted for older adults

Valneva (NASDAQ:VALN) said on Friday that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has lifted the suspension on its chikungunya vaccine, Ixchiq, for adults aged 65 years and older.

The EMA’s safety committee had previously paused the vaccine’s use in May due to 17 reported serious adverse events, including two fatalities.

Despite these incidents, the EMA determined that older adults face a higher risk of severe chikungunya infection, making vaccination crucial in specific situations.

The committee concluded that the vaccine should be administered only when there is a significant risk of chikungunya infection, following a thorough evaluation of its benefits and risks.