Bavarian Nordic A/S has advanced its chikungunya vaccine toward commercialization in Brazil, where the disease poses a significant public health burden. The company's partner, Eurofarma, submitted a marketing authorization application to the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) for CHIKV VLP on July 13, 2026. The submission targets the prevention of disease caused by the chikungunya virus in individuals 12 years of age and older.

The filing marks a key milestone in the exclusive distribution agreement established between the two companies in January 2026. Under this agreement, Eurofarma is responsible for regulatory activities, commercialization, and distribution in Brazil, while Bavarian Nordic remains the manufacturer and supplier. Eurofarma also holds a right of first refusal for future opportunities in the broader Latin American region.

Paul Chaplin, President & CEO of Bavarian Nordic, emphasized the strategic importance of the submission. He stated that the move expands access to the vaccine beyond traditional travel markets into regions where the disease is a recurring public health issue. Chaplin highlighted the combination of global vaccine innovation with local expertise to support at-risk populations.

João Siffert, Vice President of Innovation at Eurofarma, noted that the vaccine addresses a critical need in Brazil. He pointed out that chikungunya continues to spread, causing acute infection and chronic effects that impact patients and healthcare systems. Siffert described the vaccine as using modern, validated technology with a favorable safety profile and the ability to induce a rapid immune response.

CHIKV VLP is a single-dose, prefilled, adjuvanted VLP recombinant protein vaccine. It is designed to induce a robust seroresponse, with protective immunity starting to develop as early as one week after vaccination. The vaccine does not contain viral genetic material, making it non-infectious and unable to cause disease.

The vaccine has already secured regulatory approvals in major markets. It is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Commission, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Swissmedic, and Health Canada under the trade name VIMKUNYA.

Key Details of CHIKV VLP

Bavarian Nordic A/S has received approval from Health Canada for VIMKUNYA to prevent disease caused by the chikungunya virus in individuals 12 years of age and older. The single-dose vaccine is the first virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine approved in Canada for protection against the mosquito-borne virus, expanding preventive options for travelers to endemic and outbreak regions.

This approval marks the fifth regulatory authorization for VIMKUNYA. The vaccine has previously been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Commission, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and Swissmedic.

Paul Chaplin, President and CEO of Bavarian Nordic, stated that the approval is an important milestone in expanding global access to the chikungunya vaccine. He emphasized that the differentiated single-dose vaccine strengthens preventive options for Canadian travelers against a disease that can cause a significant and long-lasting burden.

Key Details of VIMKUNYA

VIMKUNYA is a single-dose, prefilled, adjuvanted VLP recombinant protein vaccine. It is designed to induce a robust seroresponse, with protective immunity starting to develop as early as one week after vaccination. The vaccine does not contain viral genetic material, making it non-infectious and unable to cause disease.

About Chikungunya

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne disease that has emerged across Asia, Africa, and the Americas over the past 20 years. It has been identified in more than 110 countries. Symptoms include fever, rash, fatigue, headache, and severe joint pain. While most patients recover, 30-40% may develop chronic symptoms lasting months or years. In 2025, more than 500,000 cases and nearly 200 associated deaths were reported worldwide.