Valneva Initiates Phase 1 Trial of Second-Generation Zika Vaccine
Candidate
Saint-Herblain (France), March 26, 2024 –
Valneva SE (Nasdaq: VALN; Euronext Paris: VLA), a specialty vaccine
company, today announced the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial
to investigate the
the safety and immunogenicity of VLA1601, its
second-generation adjuvanted inactivated vaccine candidate against
the Zika virus (ZIKV). There are currently no preventive vaccines
or effective treatments available against ZIKV. As such, this
mosquito-borne disease remains a public health threat and is
included in the Food and Drug Administration’s Tropical Disease
Priority Review Voucher Program1.
The randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase 1
trial, VLA1601-102, is planned to enroll approximately 150
participants aged 18 to 49 years in the United States. Participants
will receive a low, medium or high dose of VLA1601. In addition,
the low dose of VLA1601 will be evaluated with an additional
adjuvant, either the CpG 1018® adjuvant from Dynavax Technologies
Corporation or 3M-052-AF adjuvant from the Access to Advanced
Health Institute (AAHI). Topline data from the trial are expected
in the first half of 2025.
VLA1601 is being developed on the original
manufacturing platform of Valneva’s licensed Japanese encephalitis
(JE) vaccine IXIARO®, which was further optimized to develop the
Company’s inactivated, adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine VLA2001, the
first COVID-19 vaccine to receive a standard marketing
authorization in Europe. Phase 1 results from Valneva’s
first-generation Zika vaccine candidate were reported in 2018
showing a favorable safety profile and immunogenicity in all tested
doses and schedules2.
Juan Carlos Jaramillo M.D., Chief
Medical Officer of Valneva, said, “Valneva’s commitment to
our vision – to live in a world in which no one dies or suffers
from a vaccine-preventable disease – fuels our pursuit for
preparedness solutions against the Zika virus. As global
temperatures rise and rainfall increases, the habitat for
disease-carrying mosquitoes expands, presenting an ongoing public
health challenge.”
A vaccine against ZIKV would nicely complement
Valneva’s portfolio of travel vaccines against mosquito-borne
diseases. The Company received U.S. approval for its chikungunya
vaccine IXCHIQ®, the world first and only chikungunya vaccine to
address this unmet medical need, in November 2023, and has been
commercializing its JE vaccine IXIARO®, for over ten years. Some
health authorities and scientific leaders in the field have
indicated a preference for a purified inactivated vaccine method
compared to other vaccine technologies. This preference stems from
the understanding that the primary recipients of a Zika vaccine are
anticipated to be women of childbearing age, potentially including
those who are pregnant.
About the Zika VirusThe Zika
virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that was first
discovered in 1947. The first human cases were detected in 1952.
Since then, disease outbreaks have been reported in tropical
Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and, in 2015, in the
Americas. Zika virus is currently circulating in Mexico, Central
and South America, many countries and territories in the Caribbean
region, and in a small number of geographically limited areas of
the continental United States. To date, a total of 89 countries and
territories have reported evidence of mosquito transmitted Zika
virus infection; however, surveillance remains limited
globally.According to the World Health Organization, there is
scientific consensus that ZIKV is a cause of microcephaly and
Guillain-Barré syndrome. Since 2013, 31 countries and territories
have reported cases of microcephaly and other central nervous
system malformations associated with ZIKV infection.
About VLA1601VLA1601 is a
highly purified inactivated vaccine candidate against the Zika
virus (ZIKV), developed on the original manufacturing platform of
Valneva’s licensed Japanese encephalitis vaccine IXIARO®, which was
further optimized to develop the Company’s inactivated, adjuvanted
COVID-19 vaccine VLA2001, the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive a
standard marketing authorization in Europe. Valneva reported
positive Phase 1 results for VLA1601 in 20183. The vaccine
candidate was immunogenic and showed a favorable safety profile in
all tested doses and schedules that was comparable to IXIARO® and
other clinical stage ZIKV vaccines.
About IXIARO®/JESPECT®
Valneva’s Japanese encephalitis vaccine is
indicated for active immunization for the prevention of the disease
for people who travel to, or live in, endemic areas. It received
marketing approval in the U.S., Europe, Canada, Hong Kong,
Singapore, and Israel under the trade name IXIARO® and in Australia
and New Zealand where it is marketed as JESPECT®. It is the only
vaccine available to the U.S. military for Japanese Encephalitis.
IXIARO® is approved for use in individuals two months of age and
older in the U.S. and EU member states, Canada, Norway,
Liechtenstein, Iceland, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, the Republic
of Korea and Israel. In all other licensed territories,
IXIARO®/JESPECT® is indicated for use in persons aged 18 years or
more.
About
IXCHIQ®In the U.S.,
IXCHIQ® is a live-attenuated vaccine indicated for
the prevention of disease caused by chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in
individuals 18 years of age and older who are at increased risk of
exposure to CHIKV. As for all products approved under FDA’s
accelerated approval pathway, continued approval for this
indication is contingent upon verification and description of
clinical benefit in confirmatory studies.
Please click here for
full Prescribing Information for
IXCHIQ®.
About Valneva SE
We are a specialty vaccine company that
develops, manufactures, and commercializes prophylactic vaccines
for infectious diseases addressing unmet medical needs. We take a
highly specialized and targeted approach, applying our deep
expertise across multiple vaccine modalities, focused on providing
either first-, best- or only-in-class vaccine solutions.
We have a strong track record, having advanced
multiple vaccines from early R&D to approvals, and currently
market three proprietary travel vaccines as well as certain
third-party vaccines leveraging our established commercial
infrastructure.
Revenues from our growing commercial business
help fuel the continued advancement of our vaccine pipeline. This
includes the only Lyme disease vaccine candidate in advanced
clinical development, which is partnered with Pfizer, as well as
vaccine candidates against the Zika virus and other global public
health threats.
Valneva
Investor and Media ContactsLaetitia Bachelot-FontaineVP,
Global Communications and European Investor RelationsM +33 (0)6
4516 7099communications@valneva.com |
Joshua
Drumm, Ph.D.VP, Global Investor Relations M +001 917 815
4520joshua.drumm@valneva.com |
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to the business of Valneva, including with respect to guidance for
certain financial results in fiscal year 2024 and mid-term outlook
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developments, including results of ongoing clinical trials, the
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the date hereof and disclaims any intention or obligation to
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as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
1 Tropical Disease Priority Review Voucher Program | FDA2 A
randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded phase 1 study investigating
a novel inactivated, Vero cell-culture derived Zika virus vaccine -
PubMed (nih.gov) and Emergent Biosolutions and Valneva Report
Positive Phase 1 Results for Their Vaccine Candidate Against the
Zika Virus - Valneva3 A randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded
phase 1 study investigating a novel inactivated, Vero cell-culture
derived Zika virus vaccine - PubMed (nih.gov) and Emergent
Biosolutions and Valneva Report Positive Phase 1 Results for Their
Vaccine Candidate Against the Zika Virus - Valneva
- 2024_03_26_VLA1601_Phase1_Initiation_PR_EN_Final
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