Xenetic, Excivion to develop Zika vaccine
Since news broke that the Zika virus, which has been plaguing parts of South America and Puerto Rico, has spread to Florida, the urgency for prevention tactics have increased in the U.S.
Two healthcare companies are planning to make a vaccine, one that can fight the Dengue virus, too.
Xenetic Biosciences, a biopharmaceutical company in Lexington, Massachusetts, and Excivion, a UK-based biotechnology company, announced Aug. 18 that they are working together to develop a vaccine against Zika and dengue viruses.
Dengue fever, like Zika, is a mosquito-borne virus, can cause a fever, rash and muscle and joint pain. In severe cases, it can be fatal.
They will be using Xenetic’s Imuxen technology to develop the vaccine, a delivery platform that can enhance vaccines’ potency.
“There is a growing sense of urgency for a solution since the unexpected emergence of Zika in Florida, which now represents a real and immediate threat in the United States,” said Scott Maguire, CEO of Xenetic, in a statement.
Senior Writer
As a Senior Writer for TriMed Media Group, Katherine primarily focuses on producing news stories, Q&As and features for Cardiovascular Business. She reports on several facets of the cardiology industry, including emerging technology, new clinical trials and findings, and quality initiatives among providers. She is based out of TriMed's Chicago office and holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Columbia College Chicago. Her work has appeared in Modern Healthcare, Crain's Chicago Business and The Detroit News. She joined TriMed in 2016.