Valneva SE (“Valneva” or “the Company”), announced today that the U.S. government Department of Defense (DoD) has exercised an option to purchase 80,000 additional doses of its Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine IXIARO®. The option brings the total value of the contract signed with the DoD in January 20191 to $70 million. Shipments associated with the option will commence shortly.
Valneva expects to sign a new contract with the DoD during the first half of the year.
Franck Grimaud, Chief Business Officer of Valneva commented, “We thank the DoD for their renewed confidence in helping them protect military personnel and their families from Japanese encephalitis. We look forward to continuing to develop our relationship with the DoD.”
IXIARO® is the only JE vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It was developed through a cooperative research and development agreement with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. Valneva markets and distributes IXIARO® directly to the U.S. military and U.S. private market.
About IXIARO®/JESPECT®
Valneva’s Japanese encephalitis vaccine is indicated for active immunization for the prevention of the disease for people who travel to, or live in, endemic areas. It has received marketing approval in the U.S., Europe, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Israel under the trade name IXIARO® and in Australia and New Zealand where it is marketed as JESPECT®. It is the only vaccine available to the U.S. military for Japanese Encephalitis. IXIARO® is approved for use in individuals two months of age and older in the U.S. and EU member states, Canada, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Israel. In all other licensed territories, IXIARO®/JESPECT® is indicated for use in persons aged 18 years or more.
About Japanese Encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis is a deadly infectious disease found mainly in Asia. About 70,000 cases of JE are estimated to occur in Asia each year, although the actual number of cases is likely much higher due to underreporting in rural areas. JE is fatal in approximately 30 percent of those who show symptoms, and leaves half of survivors with permanent brain damage. The disease is endemic in Southeast Asia, India and China, a region with a population of more than three billion. In 2005, JE killed more than 1,200 children in only one month during an epidemic outbreak in Uttar Pradesh, India, and Nepal.
About Valneva SE
Valneva is a specialty vaccine company providing prevention against diseases with major unmet medical needs. Valneva’s portfolio includes two commercial vaccines for travelers: IXIARO®/JESPECT® indicated for the prevention of Japanese encephalitis and DUKORAL® indicated for the prevention of cholera and, in some countries, prevention of diarrhea caused by ETEC. The Company has various vaccines in development including a unique vaccine against Lyme disease. Valneva has operations in Austria, Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Canada and the U.S. with approximately 490 employees. More information is available at www.valneva.com.