Top FDA Approvals and Updates from February 2025 in Infectious Disease

The FDA has approved Bavarian Nordic’s Vimkunya vaccine, the first virus-like particle (VLP) single-dose vaccine for chikungunya, for individuals aged 12 and older. Approval was based on positive phase 3 trial results, where up to 97.8% of participants developed neutralizing antibodies within 21 days. The vaccine, expected to launch in the US by mid-2025 and in Europe after final approval, offers protection against the mosquito-borne illness, which can cause severe joint pain. Vimkunya is the second chikungunya vaccine approved in the US and provides a broader coverage option for younger and older adults.¹