Bavarian Nordic partners with Serum Institute of India to boost Chikungunya vaccine production

INDIA—Bavarian Nordic has entered into a manufacturing agreement with Serum Institute of India (SII) to expand production of its chikungunya vaccine, CHIKV VLP.

The Danish biotech company will transfer the complete vaccine manufacturing technology to SII, a move designed to increase production capacity and ensure future supply to endemic regions across low- and middle-income countries.

This arrangement strengthens an existing partnership between the two pharmaceutical giants, who already collaborate on manufacturing the mpox vaccine.

The new agreement replaces a previous deal Bavarian Nordic had established with Biological E.

Both companies plan to explore additional co-development opportunities as their collaboration continues to grow.

Addressing global disease burden

Paul Chaplin, president and CEO of Bavarian Nordic, emphasized the importance of combining resources from both organizations to scale up vaccine manufacturing.

He noted that expanding global supply will improve access to the chikungunya vaccine for populations worldwide who face the threat of this mosquito-borne disease.

The chikungunya virus causes debilitating joint pain and fever, primarily affecting regions in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

By partnering with SII, one of the world’s largest vaccine manufacturers, Bavarian Nordic aims to meet the growing demand in countries where the disease remains endemic.

Vaccine technology and effectiveness

The CHIKV VLP vaccine comes as a prefilled, single-dose product that uses adjuvanted virus-like particle recombinant protein technology.

Health authorities have approved it for people aged 12 years and above who need active immunization against chikungunya virus infection.

The vaccine triggers a robust immune response, with protective immunity developing within one week after administration.

Since the vaccine contains no viral genetic material, it cannot cause infection or disease, making it safe for a wide range of population groups, including immunocompromised individuals.

Regulatory approvals and market launch

Bavarian Nordic markets the vaccine under the brand name Vimkunya.

The product received regulatory approval from major health authorities, including the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the European Commission, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2025.

Regulatory authorities in Canada and Switzerland are currently reviewing the vaccine for approval.

The company launched Vimkunya in the UK in September 2025, responding to a sharp increase in chikungunya cases linked to travel across the country.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that cases surged by 170% in August 2025 compared to the same month in 2024, highlighting the urgent need for preventive measures as global travel patterns continue to evolve.