Clinical Trials for Experiential Zika Vaccine Now Avaliable in the United States

Those that have been affected by the Zika virus in the United States are sure to find relief in an announcement coming from the FDA. For the first time since the outbreak of the Zika virus, the FDA has approved clinical trials for an experimental vaccine that is said to mitigate the effects of the Zika virus. This statement originating from the FDA is a significant one due to the fact that, prior to this announcement, all previous efforts to find a cure to the virus have been futile.

Now with a chance to potentially eradicate the virus, this vaccine, created by a pharmaceutical company called Inovio, has the chance to bring back hope for the many people who have been affected by this debilitating illness.

The vaccine, dubbed GLS-5700, is otherwise known as a “DNA” vaccine, a vaccine in which DNA is altered to generate a type of protein. In this case, that protein would essentially encapsulate the cells affected by the Zika virus. Used in conjunction with a technique called “electroporation,” where the injection site is electrically stimulated to aid in the movement of DNA to reach the cells, this vaccine has been given high praise for its potential.

In less than 9 months Inovio’s vaccine was approved for human testing, showing just how paramount the search for a cure is.

Now, while these upcoming clinical trials display how quickly the search for a vaccine is progressing, it is said that an actual vaccine that would be widely available to the general public probably won’t arrive until the next couple of years.

Typically vaccines go through a structured process in which there is testing on non-human subjects than human subjects, all the while going under heavy scrutiny and changes to optimize the vaccine’s effects. Given the regulations of such vaccines, pharmaceutical companies are expected to produce high-quality products so the following phases of development will most likely take a greater amount of time to complete.

In addition, Inovio CEO, Joseph Kim, stated concerns about his companies inability to produce the vaccine at a commercial level due to the lack of production facilities at their disposal. Nevertheless, Kim has mentioned that his company has been in contact with multiple foreign governments and the WHO, all of whom are offering help to expedite the creation of GLS-5700.

Kim has stated that it will take a few more years until a reworked and finalized vaccine is available to the public.

Featured Image via Youtube/Bella Rebel