Abstract Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) causes periodic outbreaks and is endemic in more than 110 countries. VIMKUNYA, a CHIKV virus-like particle (CHIKV VLP) vaccine, was recently approved by regulators in the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom. Efficacy of VIMKUNYA in endemic settings is difficult to evaluate due to outbreak unpredictability. We used cynomolgus macaques, which model human CHIKV viremia and disease, to assess CHIKV VLP vaccine efficacy. Doses as low as 1.25 μg of CHIKV VLP with aluminum hydroxide adjuvant and passively transferred IgG from vaccinated humans significantly reduced viremia, disease, and joint pathology. Animals that received IgG doses resulting in mean reciprocal 80% neutralization titers of 35, well below the predicted protective threshold of ≥100, exhibited improved clinical outcomes compared with CHIKV-infected control animals, suggesting clinical benefits may occur at lower antibody levels. These findings demonstrate immunogenicity and protective efficacy of CHIKV VLP and relevance of neutralizing antibodies in protection, reinforcing its use in humans to protect against chikungunya disease.

Sterility in male NHP has long been achieved through surgical castration or vasectomy. However, these techniques are irreversible, require a surgical procedure, and have potential consequences such as sperm granulomas and long recovery time. Deslorelin is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist that temporarily and reversibly suppresses sex hormone secretion. Our goal in this study was to investigate the effects of deslorelin on testosterone secretion and testicular volume in male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Male macaques (n = 4) each received two, 4.7-mg deslorelin implants subcutaneously in the interscapular region. Serum testosterone and testicular volume were then monitored at specific time points until 10 mo after treatment. Testosterone suppression was defined as testosterone levels lower than 0.6 ng/mL for a sustained period of at least 30 d. After implantation, mean testicular volume was significantly reduced by day 121. Testosterone suppression was observed in all subjects. However, the time from implantation to testosterone suppression and duration of suppression varied. Two macaques were hormonally suppressed by day 26 after implantation and remained suppressed for at least 6 mo. The other 2 macaques were hormonally suppressed by 2 mo after implantation; of these two, one remained suppressed for 70 days while the other was suppressed for at least 245 days. We conclude that deslorelin can safely suppress testosterone secretion in male rhesus macaques, but individual variation in onset and duration of action should be considered when establishing reimplantation time points and potential return to reproductive activity.

Providing effective contraception for nonhuman primates (NHP) is challenging. Deslorelin acetate is a commercially available gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist that may provide a relatively noninvasive, long-lasting, and potentially reversible alternative to standard NHP contraception methods. This study evaluated the duration of suppression of progesterone and estradiol in 6 adult female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) that received a single subcutaneous 4.7 mg deslorelin implant. We hypothesized that deslorelin would suppress production of these hormones for 6 mo with a correspond- ing cessation of menses. Prior to implantation, blood was collected over 1 mo for baseline hormone analyses. Macaques were sedated at the onset of the next menstrual cycle and a 4.7 mg deslorelin implant was placed in the interscapular region. Blood was collected over the subsequent month at the same intervals used for the baseline collection schedule, and then every 7 d thereafter. Results showed that estradiol and progesterone transiently increased 1 to 3 d after implantation, then fell to basal levels within 6 d of implantation. The duration of hormone suppression (progesterone <0.5 ng/mL) varied among animals. Two macaques returned to cyclicity by 96 d and 113 d after implantation, while hormones remained suppressed in the other 4 macaques at 6 mo after implantation. Cessation of menses correlated with hormone suppression except in 1 animal that continued to have sporadic vaginal bleeding despite progesterone remaining below 0.5 ng/mL. This study indicates that deslorelin is a noninvasive and long-lasting contraceptive method in female rhesus macaques. However, individual variation should be considered when determining reimplantation intervals.

Treating and monitoring type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in NHP can be challenging. Multiple insulin and hypoglycemic therapies and management tools exist, but few studies demonstrate their benefits in a NHP clinical setting. The insulins glargine and degludec are long-acting insulins; their duration of action in humans exceeds 24 and 42 h, respectively. In the first of this study's 2 components, we evaluated whether insulin degludec could be dosed daily at equivalent units to glargine to achieve comparable blood glucose (BG) reduction in diabetic rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices. The second component assessed the accuracy of CGM devices in rhesus macaques by comparing time-stamped CGM interstitial glucose values, glucometer BG readings, and BG levels measured by using an automated clinical chemistry analyzer from samples that were collected at the beginning and end of each CGM device placement. The CGM devices collected a total of 21,637 glucose data points from 6 diabetic rhesus macaques that received glargine followed by degludec every 24 h for 1 wk each. Ultimately, glucose values averaged 29 mg/dL higher with degludec than with glargine. Glucose values were comparable between the CGM device, glucometer, and chemistry analyzer, thus validating that CGM devices as reliable for measuring BG levels in rhesus macaques. Although glargine was superior to degludec when given at the same dose (units/day), both are safe and effective treatment options. Glucose values from CGM, glucometers, and chemistry analyzers provided results that were analogous to BG values in rhesus macaques. Our report further highlights critical clinical aspects of using glargine as compared with degludec in NHP and the benefits of using CGM devices in macaques.

Opioids are essential for use in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) that require multimodal analgesia or those unable to receive NSAID as part of their pain management plan.The current opioid epidemic has universally limited the availability of these vital analgesics, compelling clinicians to investigate other options including novel opioid formulations.A commercially available injectable, long-lasting, highly concentrated buprenorphine solution (HCBS) provides therapeutic plasma concentrations lasting 24 h after a single dose in cats (Felis catus).We hypothesized that this same HCBS would achieve therapeutic concentrations (≥ 0.1 ng/mL) for at least 24 h in rhesus macaques.In the current study, 6 healthy, adult rhesus macaques were included in a randomized, 2-period, 2-treatment crossover study.The low dose (0.24 mg/kg SC) achieved a peak plasma concentration of 19.1 ± 5.68 ng/mL at 0.308 ± 0.077 h, with an AUC of 236.4 ± 22.5 h/ng/mL and terminal elimination half-life of 19.6 ± 4.02 h; for the high dose (0.72 mg/kg SC), these parameters were 65.2 ± 14.7 ng/mL, 0.034 ± 0.004 h, 641.3 ± 79.4 h/ng/mL, and 20.6 ± 2.30 h, respectively.The mean plasma concentrations for the low and high doses in rhesus macaques significantly exceeded the therapeutic threshold for 48 and 72 h, respectively.One macaque showed mild somnolence at both doses, and another showed mild pruritus at both doses.These findings show that subcutaneous administration of HCBS provides prolonged and long-lasting therapeutic plasma levels for 48 to 72 h dosing without problematic adverse effects and thus represents a potential new analgesic alternative.