By Adriano Marchese

Valneva shares dropped after it said it will no longer be able to sell its chikungunya vaccine in the U.S. after reports linked the vaccine to adverse effects.

Shares trading in New York were nearly 22% lower ahead of the morning bell at $9.09.

The Food and Drug Administration suspended the license for Ixchiq following four reports of serious adverse events that were consistent with the chikungunya-like illness, the French specialty vaccine company said Monday.

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease marked by symptoms such as sudden high fever, intense joint pain, muscle aches, rash, headache, and fatigue. The virus, which likely originated in East Africa in the 1950s, has been spreading steadily since 2004, causing large-scale outbreaks around the world, the company said. Since the reemergence of the virus, chikungunya has been identified in over 110 countries across Asia, Europe and the Americas, said Valneva.

The suspension follows the regulator's decision earlier in August to remove its recommended pause in the use of Ixchiq in people 60 and older based on a thorough investigation of reported adverse effects, mostly among the elderly with other underlying health conditions.

Valneva said it continues to investigate the four new reports of adverse events and that it may pursue further steps in connection with FDA's decision.

Chief Executive Officer Thomas Lingelbach said Valneva will continue to offer the vaccine in other countries where it remains licensed.

Write to Adriano Marchese at adriano.marchese@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 25, 2025 08:27 ET (12:27 GMT)

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