FDA Suspends Chikungunya Vaccine: The FDA has suspended the marketing application for Valneva's chikungunya vaccine, Ixchiq, due to serious safety concerns, including reported deaths and adverse events.
Safety Concerns: The suspension was prompted by evidence that the vaccine may cause chikungunya-like illness in recipients, with one death and over 20 serious adverse events linked to its administration.
Insufficient Clinical Benefit: The FDA stated that Ixchiq's clinical benefits have not been proven in confirmatory trials, and a benefit-risk analysis concluded that the risks outweigh the potential benefits.
Recent Changes in Recommendations: This decision follows a recent lifting of a pause on the vaccine's use in individuals aged 60 and older, after labeling changes were made due to investigations into serious adverse events.
VALN
$8.34+Infinity%1D
Analyst Views on VALN
Wall Street analysts forecast VALN stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for VALN is 15.00 USD with a low forecast of 13.00 USD and a high forecast of 18.00 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.
3 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast VALN stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for VALN is 15.00 USD with a low forecast of 13.00 USD and a high forecast of 18.00 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.
3 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 8.600
Low
13.00
Averages
15.00
High
18.00
Current: 8.600
Low
13.00
Averages
15.00
High
18.00
Guggenheim
Buy
downgrade
$14 -> $13
2025-09-08
Reason
Guggenheim
Price Target
$14 -> $13
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.
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.
