FDA

Recombinant chikungunya vaccine approved

February 21, 2025

Brand name: Vimkunya

Generic name: chikungunya vaccine, recombinant

Manufacturer: Bavarian Nordic

Approval date: February 14, 2025

FDA approved Vimkunya (chikungunya vaccine, recombinant) for the prevention of disease caused by chikungunya virus in individuals ≥12 years.

Vimkunya is a virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine that uses VLPs designed to mimic the chikungunya virus without the ability to infect cells, replicate, or cause disease.

Efficacy

FDA approved Vimkunya under Priority Review, based on data from two phase 3 trials that enrolled >3,500 healthy individuals ≥12 years of age. The studies met their primary endpoints, with results showing that 21 days after vaccination, the vaccine induced neutralizing antibodies in up to 97.8% of vaccinated individuals and demonstrated a rapid immune response developing within one week.

Safety

The vaccine was well-tolerated and vaccine-related adverse events were mainly mild or moderate.

Sources:

Bavarian Nordic Receives U.S. FDA Approval of Chikungunya Vaccine for Persons Aged 12 and Older. Bavarian Nordic. 2025. https://www.bavarian-nordic.com/investor/news/news.aspx?news=7053

Vimkunya. Package insert. Bavarian Nordic. 2025. https://bavariannordic.io/uploads/Vimkunya-pi.pdf