Bavarian Nordic Expands Chikungunya Vaccine Production with Serum Institute of India
Event summary
- Bavarian Nordic and Serum Institute of India (SII) have expanded their partnership to include a full tech transfer of the chikungunya vaccine (CHIKV VLP) manufacturing process.
- The agreement aims to scale production capacity for future supply to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), replacing a previous agreement with Biological E. Limited.
- CHIKV VLP (Vimkunya®) received regulatory approvals in the U.S., Europe, and the U.K. in 2025, with ongoing reviews in Switzerland and Canada.
- Chikungunya cases surged to nearly 500,000 globally in 2025, with over 200 associated deaths, primarily in Brazil.
The big picture
This partnership expansion underscores the growing focus on vaccine accessibility in LMICs, particularly for mosquito-borne diseases like chikungunya. With nearly 500,000 cases reported in 2025, the demand for scalable production solutions is critical. Bavarian Nordic's collaboration with SII, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, positions it to address this unmet need while leveraging SII's extensive production capacity.
What we're watching
- Production Scaling
- The pace at which Serum Institute of India can scale chikungunya vaccine production will determine supply availability in endemic regions.
- Regulatory Progress
- Whether Switzerland and Canada will approve CHIKV VLP in 2026, expanding market access beyond the U.S. and Europe.
- Co-Development Potential
- How future co-development opportunities between Bavarian Nordic and SII could shape their long-term strategic collaboration.
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