A global coalition set up during 2017 to fight epidemics has struck a $25 million deal with two U.S. biotech companies to accelerate work on a vaccine against the brain-damaging Nipah virus that has killed 12 people in India.
Officials in Washington, D.C.’s public health laboratory had to repeat Zika tests for nearly 300 pregnant women, including two women who were mistakenly told they tested negative for the mosquito-borne virus that has been shown to cause birth defects.
Theranos is shuttering its clinical labs and wellness centers – which will result in about 340 layoffs, about 40 percent of its workforce – the company announced.
U.S. government shifts $81 million to Zika research
Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health, Obama, R&D, Vaccines, Zika, Zika VirusThe HHS has shifted $81 million in funds from other projects to continue work on developing vaccines to fight Zika in the absence of any funding from U.S. lawmakers.
U.S. government researchers said they have begun their first clinical trial of a Zika vaccine while the Obama administration told lawmakers funds to fight the virus would run out in the coming weeks.
The Zika outbreak rampaging through Latin America will likely burn itself out in the next two to three years, based on the fact that people develop immunity to the virus after an initial infection, British scientists said.
French biotech firm Valneva said it has produced a possible vaccine against the mosquito-borne Zika virus.
French drugmaker Sanofi struck an R&D deal with the U.S. Army to speed up the development of a vaccine against the mosquito-borne Zika virus.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health will fund a study to monitor U.S. athletes, coaches and members of the Olympic Committee staff for exposure to Zika virus.
A sign explaining the parameters concerning the Zika virus and blood donations is seen at the American Red Cross Charles Drew Donation Center in Washington February 16, 2016. Reuters/Gary Cameron […]