First U.S. Case of Locally-Acquired Chikungunya Since 2019 Confirmed

Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst

VALN-5.1%

Source: SeekingAlpha

Updated: Oct 15 2025

0mins

Source: SeekingAlpha

Chikungunya Case in New York: A person in Nassau County, New York, has tested positive for chikungunya, marking the first locally acquired case of the mosquito-borne virus in the U.S. since 2019, with symptoms developing after recent travel within the country.
Vaccine and Health Updates: The CDC reported 88 travel-associated chikungunya cases in the U.S. this year, while Valneva has faced setbacks in marketing its chikungunya vaccine due to safety concerns, impacting its financial outlook.

VALN

$9.77+Infinity%1D

Analyst Views on VALN

Wall Street analysts forecast VALN stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for VALN is 10.28 USD with a low forecast of 7.55 USD and a high forecast of 13.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.

2 Analyst Rating

1 Buy

1 Hold

0 Sell

Moderate Buy

Current: 10.295

Low

7.55

Averages

10.28

High

13.00

Current: 10.295

Low

7.55

Averages

10.28

High

13.00

Guggenheim

Buy

downgrade

$14 -> $13

2025-09-08

Reason

Guggenheim

Price Target

$14 -> $13

AI Analysis

2025-09-08

downgrade

Buy

Reason

Guggenheim lowered the firm's price target on Valneva to $13 from $14 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares following the company's recent first half earnings release and the suspension of the Ixchiq BLA in the U.S. Given the suspension, the firm is removing all U.S. Ixchiq sales from its model and also assumes more limited commercial uptake in Europe, but it maintains a Buy rating ahead of the "important" Phase 3 data readout for their Lyme vaccine that it expects by late Q4 or in early Q1 of 2026.

Jefferies

Maury Raycroft

Buy

downgrade

$18 -> $14

2025-08-25

Reason

Jefferies

Maury Raycroft

Price Target

$18 -> $14

2025-08-25

downgrade

Buy

Reason

Jefferies analyst Maury Raycroft lowered the firm's price target on Valneva to $14 from $18 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares after the FDA suspended the Ixchiq biologics license application based on four new serious adverse events seen outside of the U.S. The firm, which thinks there is some potential risk for ex-U.S. regulators to change their stance on Ixchiq licensure, adds that Ixchiq is "not a major revenue driver" in the near term.

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H.C. Wainwright

Brandon Folkes

Buy

maintain

$18

2025-08-25

Reason

H.C. Wainwright

Brandon Folkes

Price Target

$18

2025-08-25

maintain

Buy

Reason

H.C. Wainwright analyst Brandon Folkes reiterates a Buy rating on Valneva after the FDA suspended the license for Ixchiq following four new reports of serious adverse events consistent with chikungunya-like illness. Despite the FDA's decision, Valneva has not revised its revenue guidance for 2025, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm points out that management noted Ixchiq represents a relatively small portion of its near-term revenue expectations. The stock selloff today offers an attractive entry for investors who are constructive on a potential positive readout for VLA15 later this year, contends H.C. Wainwright. It views the selloff as overdone and keeps an $18 price target on Valneva.

H.C. Wainwright

Brandon Folkes

initiated

$18

2025-08-19

Reason

H.C. Wainwright

Brandon Folkes

Price Target

$18

2025-08-19

initiated

Reason

H.C. Wainwright analyst Brandon Folkes assumed coverage of Valneva with a Buy rating and $18 price target. The firm says Valneva is a commercial-stage vaccine company with a \"strong proprietary portfolio.\" VLA15 offers a \"de-risked, relatively high-probability path\" to potential blockbuster sales, the analyst tells investors in a research note.

About VALN

Valneva SE is a France-based company that specializes in the development, manufacture and commercialization of vaccines to protect people from infectious diseases through preventative medicine. The Company's portfolio includes two commercial vaccines for travelers: IXIARO/JESPECT, for the prevention of Japanese Encephalitis, and DUKORAL, which is indicated for the prevention of cholera and, in some countries, prevention of diarrhea caused by Enterotoxigenic escherichia coli (ETEC). The Company has also vaccines in development, including candidates against Lyme disease, COVID-19 and chikungunya. Its technologies and services segment cooperates with various pharmaceutical companies using its platform: EB66 vaccine production cell line and IC31 adjuvant. The Company is focused on research and development (R&D) programs, as well as holds investment in product candidates and commercial products.

About the author

Emily J. Thompson

Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.