At the beginning of the year, the Putantan Institute recruited volunteers for a vaccine against chikungunya, a disease transmitted by mosquitoes Aedes aegypti. This week, the Center for Biological Research announced the results of phase III tests, which showed a 96.3% efficacy for the immunosuppressant — dubbed VLA1553.

This means that the formula generated an immune response in 96.3% of the volunteers. In all, 4,115 people have participated in this current phase of testing, which was conducted in the United States, through a partnership with biotech company Valneva.

Despite the vaccine’s high efficacy, participants should be followed up by scientists over the next five years. The idea is to understand whether levels of protection are still high and whether there are differences between age groups. Butantan is also declared immune system safe and causes minimal adverse reactions.

In a previous study, the Butantan Institute reported an immunosuppressive 98.5% efficacy, close to dose application. It is noteworthy that, unlike CoronaVac (the vaccine against covid-19), this vaccine consists of a single dose, made with attenuated virus technology.

Chikungunya vaccine trials in Brazil

After testing in the US, Butantan is also conducting a Phase III clinical study here in Brazil, which will last 15 months and intends to participate in 750 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. The tests are conducted in six research centers in the following municipalities:

• São Paulo-SP)
• Salvador Ba)
• Fortaleza (CE)
• Belo Horizonte (MG)
• Aracaju Airport (SE)
• Campo Grande, Massachusetts)

The institute says that it has selected areas where chikungunya is endemic. Vaccine test data is expected to be submitted to analysis by Anvisa by the end of next year.

source: Brazil Agencybutantane (1And the two)