Clinical development of IMOJEV®-a recombinant Japanese encephalitis chimeric vaccine (JE-CV)

Introduction: Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a disease of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). JE is endemic in most of the South-East Asian countries and in some parts of the Western Pacific. As mosquito control is ineffective, currently vaccination is the only available control measure. A mouse brain-derived inactivated JE vaccine (MBDV) has been in use for a long time; however, it is not feasible for mass vaccination due to the ethical and safety issues. With the World Health Organization (WHO) appealing for the development of novel, safe and affordable JE vaccines, several vaccine candidates have been developed in the recent times and IMOJEV (R) is one among them. Areas covered: This review presents a brief account of various developmental, immunological and ethical issues related to IMOJEV (R) and provides an in-depth account of its clinical development and efficacy in comparison to other JE vaccines. Expert opinion: IMOJEV (R) is a safe and efficacious vaccine. If made affordable through financial assistance from health agencies or by its production in set ups where operational costs are lower, it may become an ideal vaccine for mass vaccination in JE endemic regions.