Part of the Solution: How Recombinant Albumin Supports the World’s First Chikungunya Vaccine

Specialty vaccine company Valneva has developed the world’s first FDA-approved vaccine against the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus. Read here about the critical role recombinant albumin from Albumedix, now part of Sartorius, plays as part of the solution.

Discovered already in 1952 in Tanzania, the chinkungunya virus may still be unknown to many. Since 2005, however, over two million cases of chinkungunya infections have been reported, according to the World Health Organization. Its flu-like symptoms and severe joint pain can last for months. In rare cases, it can even be fatal. Mosquitoes transmit the tropical virus, which originated in Africa and Asia, and is now increasingly spreading northwards due to climate change. Until recently, there was no vaccine available. That has now changed.

According to the WHO, over two million cases of chinkungunya infections have been reported since 2005.

First Vaccine Available

In November 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the world’s first vaccine, against the chikungunya virus, IXCHIQ^®. The European Medecines Agency recommended approval at the end of May 2024; next step ist the official authorization by the European Commission. Approval is also underway in further countries, for example Canada and Brazil.

IXCHIQ^® was developed by Valneva, which develops, manufactures, and commercializes vaccines for infectious diseases addressing unmet medical needs – and is a Sartorius customer. Valneva’s IXCHIQ^® is the only protection against chinkungunya infection for people travelling to or living in areas, where the virus is endemic.

Sartorius is Part in the Solution: Recombumin^® Stabilizes New Vaccine

A critical challenge in the development of the single-shot live-attenuated vaccine was ensuring stability during storage and transport, so that it could be distributed worldwide using standard cold chains.

The solution: Making it more stable with the help of Recombumin^® from Albumedix, now part of Sartorius. “Recombumin^® serves as a multifunctional tool used in various preclinical, clinical, and marketed vaccines and biopharmaceuticals,” explains Jonas Møller, Head of Advanced Therapy Solutions in the Bioprocess Solutions division at Sartorius.

“In IXCHIQ® it is used in the final formulation, stabilizing the ingredients, and preventing the components from clumping together or sticking to the containers. It also protects the vaccine from damage during long-term storage by acting as an antioxidant. Overall, we are happy and proud of the inclusion of Recombumin®, which maximizes vaccine stability, quality, and shelf-life, ensuring that no vaccine is lost, and full efficacy is maintained.

”We are happy and proud of the inclusion of Recombumin^®, which maximizes vaccine stability, quality, and shelf-life, ensuring that no vaccine is lost, and full efficacy is maintained".

UK-based Albumedix has been researching and developing Recombumin® for more than 30 years. Acquired by Sartorius in 2022, the company’s 72,000-square-foot site in Nottingham now serves as a center of excellence for innovation and GMP-compliant production of critical raw materials.

Image: Jonas Skjødt Møller, Head of Business Unit Advanced Therapy Solutions at Sartorius