Biological E has partnered strategically with Bavarian Nordic to expand access to Bavarian Nordic’s Chikungunya vaccine in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).
The partnership comprises a technology transfer of the current drug product manufacturing process for the Chikungunya vaccine, with the option to transfer the drug substance process at a later stage. To that end, the companies have reached an agreement to expand their capacity to provide future supplies to endemic low—and middle-income countries.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Bavarian Nordic to help expand the availability of their Chikungunya vaccine in low and middle-income countries. The scale of our manufacturing and successful track record in providing global access to vaccines is synergistically aligned with Bavarian Nordic via this strategic partnership,’‘ Mahima Datla, Managing Director, Biological E, said in a release on Tuesday.
Paul Chaplin, President & CEO of Bavarian Nordic, said: “We are pleased to announce our first collaboration to expand global access to our Chikungunya vaccine and also our first partnership with Biological E. Expanding supply is a prerequisite for our ability to address the increasing need for solutions to prevent Chikungunya in vulnerable populations in endemic regions.’‘
The initial technology transfer would be followed by regulatory approval applications and commencement of commercial manufacturing thereafter. BE’s existing facilities in Genome Valley, Hyderabad will be augmented to make the Chikungunya Vaccine. The manufacturing of Chikungunya vaccine at BE is expected to generate up to 300 new jobs.
This agreement has come about as Bavarian Nordic continues to explore opportunities in line with its strategy to provide global access to its Chikungunya Vaccine via partners for markets outside the US and Europe.
The recent and first approval of the vaccine in the US as the first Chikungunya vaccine for persons as young as 12 years and the positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use have demonstrated the viability to expand regulatory approvals beyond these markets.
CHIKV VLP is an adjuvanted VLP recombinant protein vaccine for active immunization to prevent disease caused by chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in individuals 12 years and older. Because VLPs contain no genetic material from viruses, the vaccine cannot infect cells, reproduce, or cause disease.
In February 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved VIMKUNYA (CHIKV VLP) as the first chikungunya vaccine for children as young as 12. The approval was based on results from two phase 3 clinical trials, which enrolled more than 3,500 healthy individuals 12 years of age and older, the release said.