Vaccine Info

MV-CHIK Chikungunya Vaccine

Authored by
Staff
Last reviewed
October 14, 2022
Fact checked by
Robert Carlson, MD
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MV-CHIK Description 2022

MV-CHIK is a vaccine candidate utilizing Themis’ measles vector platform. MV-CHIK consists of a recombinant live Schwarz-strain measles-vectored vaccine expressing chikungunya virus structural proteins.

Upon vaccination with MV-CHIK, the measles virus delivers the CHIKV antigens directly to antigen-presenting cells susceptible to the measles virus, including dendritic cells and monocytes, allowing for the mounting of CHIKV-specific cellular and humoral immune responses without the need for an additional adjuvant (Brandler et al. 2013).

MV-CHIK induced neutralizing antibodies are cross-protective against all circulating CHIKV lineages, as demonstrated with serum from immunized NHPs and serum pools from human clinical trial participants (Rossi et al. 2019).

In addition to immune responses against chikungunya virus structural proteins, the recombinant vaccine also induced a significant increase in measles-specific IgG titres at both doses evaluated, indicating that the measles backbone of MV-CHIK also elicits an immune response. This enhanced immunity against measles could be a major benefit of MV-CHIK.

Themis’ vaccination vector has the ability to incorporate large recombinant genes coding for selected antigens into its genome. 

MV-CHIK Indication

MV-CHIK is indicated to prevent Chikungunya disease.

MV-CHIK Dosage

MV-CHIK in the Phase 2 clinical trial will be administered as two intramuscular injections.

MV-CHIK Clinical Trials

Clinical Trial NCT03807843: Chikungunya Vaccine Study in Previously Exposed Adults

STATUS: Recruiting

Clinical Trial NCT02861586: Phase II Study to Evaluate Safety and Immunogenicity of a Chikungunya Vaccine (MV-CHIK-202)

STATUS: Completed

Results:  The live recombinant measles-virus-based chikungunya vaccine had good immunogenicity, even in the presence of anti-vector immunity, was safe and had a generally acceptable tolerability profile. This vaccine is the first promising measles-virus-based candidate vaccine for use in human beings.

Clinical Trials

No clinical trials found