Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, has launched a vaccine research and development project targeting the prevention of Zika virus infection and disease
A disease linked to the Zika virus in Latin America poses a global public health emergency requiring a united response, said the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the BBC this WHO alert puts Zika in the same category of concern as Ebola.
Sanofi Pasteur has vaccines for viruses in the same family as the Zika virus (ZIKV). The ZIKV is closely related to dengue; it belongs to the same Flavivirus genus, is spread by the same species of mosquito and has a similar acute clinical presentation.
The company said that its established research and development (R&D) and industrial infrastructure for the newly licensed vaccine for dengue, Dengvaxia, can be rapidly leveraged to help understand the spread of ZIKV and potentially speed identification of a vaccine candidate for further clinical development.
John Shiver, global head of R&D, Sanofi Pasteur, said: "Our invaluable collaborations with scientific and public health experts, both globally and in the regions affected by the outbreaks of ZIKV, together with the mobilisation of our best experts will expedite efforts to research and develop a vaccine for this disease.”
Common symptoms caused by a Zika infection include fever, rash, joint swelling, conjunctivitis and headaches.
However, according to Sanofi Pasteur, there is a growing body of evidence linking Zika infection in pregnant women with an increased risk of a severe congenital complication at birth called microcephaly.
Nicholas Jackson, global head of research for Sanofi Pasteur who will be driving the new ZIKV vaccine project, said: "Sanofi Pasteur is responding to the global call to action to develop a Zika vaccine given the disease's rapid spread and possible medical complications.
"In addition to the serious possibility of congenital complications associated with Zika, investigations are also underway to assess another reported connection between Zika and a dangerous neurological disorder".
Presently there is no vaccine or specific treatment for Zika.