The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) has reported that Bharat Biotech’s Chikungunya vaccine candidate, BBV87, is moving forward into Phase II and III clinical trials. A significant announcement given the current lack of a commercial Chikungunya vaccine. The details about this development are crucial to understanding the progress being made in addressing this global health concern.
Bharat Biotech’s BBV87: An Inactivated Virus Vaccine
BBV87 functions as an inactivated virus vaccine, a similar approach used in the development of Covaxin. This kind of vaccine contains viruses that have been neutralized by heat, chemicals or radiation, disabling their ability to infect cells and replicate. Yet, despite the destruction of their genetic material, they remain capable of triggering an immune response.
Bharat Biotech collaboratively developed this Chikungunya vaccine candidate with the International Vaccine Institute. The initiative is funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) with support from the Ind-CEPI mission of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. The development of this vaccine is part of the United Nations Development Programme’s Global Chikungunya Vaccine Clinical Development Program.
Understanding Chikungunya: A Mosquito-Borne Viral Disease
Chikungunya, initially observed during an outbreak in southern Tanzania in 1952, is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes. The term Chikungunya stems from the local Kimakonde language and translates to “to become contorted,” echoing the bent posture of patients enduring acute joint pain.
The disease is spread to humans through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which are also responsible for transmitting the dengue virus. These mosquitoes become carriers of the infection by biting infected humans or animals. Environmental conditions significantly influence their breeding and survival rates.
Symptoms and Treatment of Chikungunya
Manifestations of Chikungunya include severe joint pain, muscle pain, headaches, nausea, fatigue, and rashes. Currently, with no designated vaccines or antiviral drugs available, treatment primarily focuses on alleviating symptoms associated with the infection.
Triggers for Increased Cases of Chikungunya
Several factors contribute to the escalating incidence of vector-borne diseases like Chikungunya in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. These include unplanned urbanization and deficient water and solid waste management, leading to an upsurge in mosquito breeding sites. The lack of a specific antiviral drug or vaccine also adds vulnerability to the spread of the disease.
Government Initiatives Against Chikungunya
The Indian government has taken measures to control the spread of Chikungunya through schemes like the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP). As a comprehensive program under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, it aims to prevent and control vector-borne diseases like Malaria, Filaria, Kala-azar, Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue, and Chikungunya. Such milestones in vaccine development offer hope in managing such public health threats effectively.