FDA Fast Tracks Zika Vaccine

A recent Reuters article noted that the FDA has granted ‘fast track’ status to a vaccine for Zika, the virus that’s spread by mosquitos. The vaccine, TAK-426, was developed by Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, and it’s currently in the early stages of development and testing on 240 patients from 18 to 49 years of age.

Fast track status means the FDA is assisting in the development of the vaccine and expediting the review process. It is reserved for rare circumstances where serious conditions have no proven treatments. The World Health Organization declared the Zika outbreak an international health emergency back in 2016 when the virus became associated with severe birth defects.