DNA-based Zika vaccine found effective in early human trial

New York: An experimental DNA-based vaccine has demonstrated both safety and the ability to elicit an immune response against Zika virus in humans, according to new research.

The Phase-1 clinical trial showed that humans who received up to three doses of the vaccine candidate produced an immune response against Zika with minimal adverse effects.

The findings open the door to further clinical trials for this vaccine candidate. The GLS-5700 vaccine is a synthetic DNA vaccine that contains the instructions for the host to mount an immune response against a specific Zika virus antigen.

"With these new results, we are one step closer to hopefully finding a way to prevent infection, which can cause serious birth defects and developmental delays in babies born to women who are infected with Zika," said the study's lead author, Pablo Tebas, Professor at University of Pennsylvania in the US.

In 2015 and 2016, Zika virus spread rapidly through Brazil, the Caribbean, and even into the southern US. However, a vaccine to prevent infection has remained elusive. For this study, the researchers enrolled 40 participants in the safety trial between August and September of 2016.