Valneva Launches Free Chikungunya Vaccine Pilot in Brazil Amid U.S. Stock Market Setbacks

Valneva has launched a free pilot vaccination programme in Brazil to combat chikungunya. The initiative will offer up to 500,000 doses of its IXCHIQ vaccine in ten municipalities. It comes as the company faces setbacks in the U.S. stock market while advancing another vaccine for Lyme disease.

The programme targets adults aged 18 to 59, aiming for a vaccination coverage rate of 20 to 40 percent. Brazil has reported over one million chikungunya cases since 2019, making the campaign a response to an urgent public health need. The effort is run in partnership with the Butantan Institute, a key player in Brazilian vaccine production.

Meanwhile, Valneva's chikungunya vaccine has faced challenges in the U.S. stock market. In August 2025, the FDA placed a clinical hold on IXCHIQ due to safety concerns. The company then voluntarily withdrew the vaccine from the U.S. stock market in January 2026 after a serious adverse event was reported outside the country. Despite this, the vaccine remains approved in Europe, Canada, the UK, and Brazil, where regulators still consider its benefits to outweigh risks for travellers and those in outbreak zones.

The company is now focusing on its Lyme disease vaccine, VLA15. Phase 3 data from the VALOR study is expected in the first half of 2026, with analysts noting the Lyme disease market is larger than that for chikungunya. Valneva will also release its 2025 revenue and liquidity figures on February 19, followed by full-year results on March 1.

The Brazilian pilot programme will provide free doses to thousands, addressing a significant health burden. While IXCHIQ's U.S. stock market approval has been withdrawn, it remains available in other regions. Valneva's next steps include reporting financial results and advancing its Lyme disease vaccine through clinical trials.