If you have employees who travel for work—particularly women of childbearing age—the Zika virus may be much on your mind (and theirs) these days. Fortunately, the federal government is expediting efforts to develop a vaccine.
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) will begin developing a vaccine using its Center for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing (CIADM) in Baltimore, Maryland.
With funding and direction from ASPR’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), the CIADM led by Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., will conduct a variety of studies to move quickly through early stages of vaccine development and submit an investigational new drug request to the Food and Drug Adminstration to begin clinical studies. To further speed development time, the CIADM will use vaccine technology similar to that used in vaccines being developed to protect against similar viruses, such as Dengue.