Profile of clinical research related to the development of the chikungunya virus vaccine: strategic points and challenges

Abstract

Introduction: chikungunya has recently appeared in different parts of the world. The spread of this
pathogen has intensified due to the expansion of global transport systems and ecological changes promoted
by man. CHIKV is transmitted to humans through the bite of the Aedes ssp. and the characteristic symptom,
inflammatory arthralgia, makes the patient incapacitated for prolonged periods. So far, there are no specific
medications to treat CHIKV infection, so therapeutic strategies are focused on the symptoms of the disease.
Thus, the development of vaccines and clinical studies become important to combat this disease. Objective:
this study identifies the profile of clinical trials related to the development of the vaccine against
Chikungunya virus and discusses strategic points and challenges involved in this process. Methods:
bibliographical survey and literature review were carried out. Results and discussion: six articles
representing the study of four potential vaccines were selected. An attenuated virus vaccine, a mRNA
vaccine, a VLP vaccine, and a viral vector vaccine. All vaccines had good answers, but several questions
make it difficult for the research to proceed. Vaccines must provide protection against heterologous strains,
establish a protective correlation against CHIKV infection, overcome the unpredictability of CHIKV
epidemiology, and compete with other diseases for the attention and limited financial resources of investors.
Conclusion: In recent years considerable progress has been made in research and development of vaccines
against CHIKV. A variety of approaches have produced many possibilities, some of which have entered
Phase I and Phase II clinical trials. However, relevant challenges such as lower economic interest in this
vaccine remain.