Company Overview - Valneva SE is a specialty vaccine company focused on developing, manufacturing, and commercializing prophylactic vaccines for infectious diseases, addressing unmet medical needs [6] - The company has a strong track record of advancing multiple vaccines from early R&D to approvals and currently markets three proprietary travel vaccines [6] - Valneva's vaccine pipeline includes candidates for Lyme disease, Zika virus, and other global public health threats, with revenues from its commercial business supporting ongoing development [6] Chikungunya Vaccine Update - The UK’s Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) has updated its recommendations for Valneva's single-dose chikungunya vaccine, IXCHIQ, following a review of its benefits and risks [1] - The updated prescribing information includes restrictions for individuals over 60 years of age and those with specified health conditions, as well as guidelines on vaccination timing prior to travel [2] - The benefit-risk profile of IXCHIQ remains favorable for individuals aged 18 to 59 years who are at risk of chikungunya infection without contraindicated medical conditions [2][3] Safety Monitoring and Regulatory Actions - The update follows a temporary suspension of IXCHIQ's use in older individuals due to reports of serious adverse events primarily among elderly patients with significant underlying health conditions during a vaccination campaign [3] - Valneva is committed to maintaining high safety standards and will continue to monitor post-marketing safety data for IXCHIQ, collaborating with relevant authorities for potential updates to recommendations [4] Chikungunya Virus Context - Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne disease causing severe joint pain, fever, and other symptoms, with significant global outbreaks since 2004 [5] - Over 3.7 million cases were reported in the Americas between 2013 and 2023, with the economic impact considered substantial, expected to grow due to climate change affecting mosquito distribution [5] - The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified chikungunya as a major public health problem, highlighting the need for effective vaccine solutions [5]