Valneva inks $59m JE vaccine supply contract

Under the agreement, Valneva will supply its FDA-approved preventive vaccine for Japanese encephalitis (JE) from 2019 to 2020. There is a minimum order quantity of doses worth $59m, which can be increased to $70m.

"The U.S. military has been using IXIARO since 2010 and we are excited to further support the expansion of its use and help protect military personnel and their families from Japanese encephalitis," commented Franck Grimaud, Chief Business Officer of Valneva. 

In October, the FDA approved an accelerated vaccination schedule for the active immunisation, that was developed under an collaboration agreement with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research of two doses administered seven days apart (before 28 days) for adult travelers aged 18-65 years. 

JE is an infectious disease with an estimated 70,000 cases annually in Asia, 30% of which are deadly. Half of survivors have permanent brain damage. The disease is endemic in Southeast Asia, India and China.