Zika Vaccine Could be on the Horizon

Zika Vaccine Could be on the Horizon

With all the startling reports coming out of the media, the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, one question is weighing on the minds of many: how close are we to a Zika virus vaccine?

According to Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc., we are getting fairly close.

The company reported that they had created an experimental shot which induced a positive response in lab mice. What’s more, they expect to trial the vaccine in humans later in the year.

“We will next test the vaccine in non-human primates and initiate clinical product manufacturing. We plan to initiate Phase I human testing of our Zika vaccine before the end of 2016,” Inovio Chief Executive Joseph Kim said.

And Inovio is not the only company working against the clock to come up with a vaccine. There U.S. National Institutes for Health is also working on a vaccine, as is French pharmaceutical company Sanofi. It’s also likely there are dozens of other—the promise of a Zika virus vaccine not only means the end to a global health crisis, but also big bucks for the vaccine’s creators.

Do you believe the reports that we are close to a vaccine? Do you think it’s possible for these companies to accomplish this feat by the end of the year?

We’re remaining hopeful at Bug Busters USA!