DOD Ends Ixiaro Vaccine Supply Deal With Valneva

The Department of Defense (DOD) has decided not to exercise its option to purchase additional supplies of Valneva’s Japanese encephalitis virus vaccine Ixiaro.

DOD administers the vaccine to military personnel who visit or are deployed to affected countries, including India, China and other parts of Asia to protect against disease from viral brain infections borne through mosquito bites.

Because of the travel restrictions during the pandemic, DOD believes its current Ixiaro vaccine supply is enough for current needs, but it is open to negotiating a new supply contract in 2023 once inventory returns to standard levels, according to Valneva.

The FDA first approved the vaccine in March 2009. In October 2018, the agency approved an accelerated seven-day dosing schedule.