Biotechnology company Valneva (VALN.US) announces new data on its Chikungunya virus vaccine, potentially suitable for adolescents.

French biotech company Valneva (VALN.US) has released more data on its FDA-approved chikungunya virus vaccine, Ixchiq, from a Phase 3 trial conducted in Brazil on adolescents aged 12-17. After the data release, Valneva's stock rose 8.70% in pre-market trading, reaching $4.75. According to the company, new data from their VLA1553-321 trial showed that participants who tested negative for chikungunya virus at baseline had a serum response rate of 98.3% one year after receiving a single injection of Ixchiq. In comparison, the serum response rates at six months and 28 days after vaccination were 99.1% and 98.8% respectively. Additionally, Valneva added that safety data from the study involving 754 participants confirmed the previously determined tolerability profile of Ixchiq. Chikungunya fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes and has been classified as a significant public health concern by the World Health Organization. In November last year, the US FDA approved Ixchiq as the world's first chikungunya fever vaccine. The company had previously announced the 28-day and six-month data from the VLA1553-321 trial in 2023 and 2024, respectively. These findings support the submission of label expansion applications for Ixchiq in the US, Europe, and Canada, with the aim of using the vaccine in adolescents.