latelythe Zika virus seems to be on everyone’s lips.
And it is not for less, due to the negative consequences that we have been able to verify that it carries, especially in the case of babies with microcephaly born of infected mothers.
Therefore, there are many pharmaceutical companies who have been trying for months to develop a vaccine able to prevent disease so that it can end its expansion. Until now, numerous tests have been carried out in animal models, but it has not been until today when one of these companies has received the approval of the American Food and Drug Agency (FDA) to start the trials with human volunteers.
When will tests for the Zika vaccine begin?
The vaccine, called GLS-5700, has been developed by the American companyInovio, next to the South Korean GeneOneLife Science in collaboration with other institutions Canada and the United States and, due to the effectiveness it has proven in mice and monkeyscan be tested in 40 human volunteers in the next weeks.
However, the scientists responsible for the study have warned that they will not have results until end of this year, so for now we have to wait a few months to know its effectiveness.
How does this new Zika vaccine work?
The mechanism of GLS-500Consists of the intradermal administration of the DNA that encodes the protein that is responsible for encapsulating the virusso that the organism can create a immune response without having to introduce the complete virus as it happens in traditional vaccines.
Once the 40 volunteers have been administered, these scientists will have to evaluate safety, tolerance and immunogenicity of the vaccine or, what is the same, its possible risks and the body’s ability to accept it and create a effective immune response.
The other options to prevent Zika
Although this is the first vaccine the FDA approval For its human test, it does not mean that it is the only one that has been developed so far, nor does it mean that it will not be possible to perform more similar trials in the more or less near future.
In fact, himself National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Allergies The United States is currently developing its own alternative, whose human trials will begin next month of September, although they may not have conclusive results until within two or three years.
On the other hand, scientists from the Walter Reed Institute of the United States Armyhave also had good results in animal models with a vaccine that they intend to test in humans at the end of the year.
So it appears that this was only the first green light that the FDA has given, but that many more will follow. Hopefully all these trials can put a stop to this epidemic that until now has had the entire planet in check.
