Zika Vaccines 2023

Zika Vaccines May 2023

Zika vaccine candidate research has been active for the past few years, and previous study results suggest that a vaccine can be developed. Clinical trials involving DNA, modified vaccinia Ankara vector platform, and purified inactivated virus vaccines showed they were potentially safe and well-tolerated in small studies and induced neutralizing antibodies. 

Research funded by the U.K.'s Newton Fund in 2022 supported the development of Zika vaccines. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any Zika vaccine or treatment as of May 2023.

Zika Vaccine Candidates 2023

TAK-426 (PIZV) is a purified, inactivated, alum-adjuvanted, whole Zika virus vaccine candidate. The Zika virus vaccine is being tested to provide safety and immunogenicity data to enable the vaccine to be further developed clinically.

mRNA-1893 contains an mRNA sequence encoding the structural proteins of the Zika virus. This phase 2 clinical study evaluates the safety, tolerability, and reactogenicity of 2 dose levels of messenger RNA (mRNA)-1893 Zika vaccine compared to a placebo control in healthy participants flavivirus-seronegative and in participants who are flavivirus-seropositive. On January 19, 2023, a study concluded: These findings support the continued development of mRNA-1893 against Zika virus, which was well tolerated at all evaluated dose levels and induced strong Zika virus-specific serum nAb responses after two doses, regardless of baseline flavivirus serostatus.

iosBio OraPro-Zika is an orally administered Zika virus vaccine candidate based on a non-replicating human adenovirus type 5 (AdHu5) (E1/E3 deleted) expressing Zika transgenes.

GEO-ZM02 is constructed using a modified vaccinia Ankara vector platform. Preclinical studies demonstrated a single dose of GEO-ZM02 provided 100% protection against a lethal dose of the Zika virus. This Zika vaccine is based on the NS1 protein of Zika, which is not associated with Antibody-Dependent Enhancement of infection.

Ad26.ZIKV.001 is a replication-incompetent human adenovirus serotype 26 (ad26) vector vaccine candidate. In a clinical trial, researchers found two doses of Ad26.ZIKV.001 was safe, causing mild to moderate reactogenicity and induced persistent neutralizing antibody responses. The single dose had lower peak antibodies but was durable after one year. 

GeneOne Life Science and Inovio Pharmaceuticals DNA vaccine GLS-5700's phase 1, open-label clinical trial elicited anti-ZIKV immune responses.

ZPIV is a Zika virus vaccine candidate with purified formalin-inactivated Zika virus.

VLA1601 is a purified, inactivated, whole Zika vaccine candidate adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide that has completed a phase 1 clinical trial.

VRC5283 is a Zika Virus DNA Vaccine candidate composed of a single closed-circular DNA plasmid-encoded with wild-type precursor transmembrane M and envelope proteins from the H/PF/2013 strain of ZIKV, conducting a phase 2 clinical study.

Liverpool researchers said on April 27, 2023, participants will receive two doses of the new vaccine. Up to 40 volunteers in this phase of work are planned, which will be taking place over the next nine months. 

Zika Vaccine News 2017 - 2023

May 2, 2023 - The first participant has received a dose of a new Zika virus vaccine being trialed by the University of Liverpool at the Clinical Research Facility within the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, based on work at The University of Manchester.

April 19, 2023 - Article: Scientists find different flavors of broadly neutralizing antibodies that could lead to new vaccines for growing threats.

April 6, 2023 - ScienceDirect published - Generation of a thermostable, oral Zika vaccine that protects against virus challenge in non-human primates. This candidate vaccine has significant advantages over many current vaccines that are maintained in a cold or ultra-cold chain and require parenteral administration.

March 30, 2023 - Zika vaccines will be discussed at the 23rd World Vaccine Congress in Washington, D.C., on April 4, 2023.

February 21, 2023 - Medcape reported: Zika Virus Still Calls for Preparedness and Vaccine Development.

January 25, 2023 - GeoVax Labs, Inc. confirmed the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a Notice of Allowance for Patent Application No. 17/000,768 titled, "Method for Generating a ZIKV Immune Response Utilizing a Recombinant Modified Vaccinia Ankara Vector Encoding the NS1 Protein."

January 19, 2023 - The Lancet Infectious Disease published a study: The safety and immunogenicity of two Zika virus mRNA vaccine candidates in healthy flavivirus baseline seropositive and seronegative adults: the results of two randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging, phase 1 clinical trials. These findings support the continued development of mRNA-1893 against the ZIKV.

May 18, 2021 - The Lancet published a study that concluded that: TAK-426 was well tolerated, with an acceptable safety profile, and immunogenic in both flavivirus-naive and flavivirus-primed adults. Based on the safety and immunogenicity profiles of all TAK-426 doses assessed, the 10 μg TAK-426 amount was selected for further clinical development.

February 16, 2021 - The Zika virus candidate, Ad26.ZIKV.001, a replication-incompetent human adenovirus serotype 26 (ad26) vector, showed promising safety and immunogenicity in phase I clinical trials. Researchers say the vaccine warrants further development should the need reemerge.

August 7, 2020 - A new study describes the preclinical selection and development of a potent ZIKV vaccine from 9 constructs using SAM technology expressing various forms of the ZIKV prM-E antigen. This study identified one ZIKV SAM vaccine candidate, VRC5283, that provided complete protection from the ZIKV challenge in mice and NHPs.

April 15, 2020 - Moderna's Zika vaccine mRNA1893 low dose levels were very effective.

December 19, 2019 - A U.S. NIH-developed Zika vaccine improves fetal outcomes in an animal model.

November 28, 2017 - Takeda Pharmaceutical announced that its purified, inactivated, alum-adjuvanted whole Zika virus vaccine candidate (TAK-426) has progressed into a Phase 1 clinical trial.

Vaccine Library Overview

Click here to access the A-Z vaccine library.

Note: Zika vaccine content sources include, but are not limited to, the World Health Organization, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, clinicaltrials.gov, and the Precision Vaccinations news network. And this content has been reviewed by healthcare providers.