US Army Partners With Sanofi To Develop Zika Vaccine

Thursday, July 7, 2016

The US Army has teamed up with Sanofi SA to develop research and development of an experimental Zika vaccine that has shown potential in early laboratories trials and is among the few contenders likely to be tested on humans this year. Some 15 companies, Sanofi included, are racing to come up with viable vaccines against the Zika virus, which has become an epidemic in South America and has caused widespread fear in the Americas – and the rest of the world.

The World Health Organization has deemed Zika a public health emergency because the virus has been associated with birth defects in several countries. The experimental vaccine was developed by scientists at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, MD. It is now in advanced stages of progress with Sanofi, and is the most innovative among the vaccines being created.

The vaccine is based on a technology using another virus that has been inactivated, and licensed against Zika-related viruses, such as encephalitis. The technology has also been used to create vaccines for polio, flu and other diseases.

Source: Immortal News (link opens in a new window)

Categories
Health Care
Tags
infectious diseases, public health