Connecticut Company to Develop Zika Virus Vaccine

Editor’s Note: Patch is re-running this story in case you missed it the first time around.

MERIDEN, CT - Biopharmaceutical company Protein Sciences Corp., of Meriden, is teaming up with an Argentinian company and a private global health organization to develop a vaccine to fight the Zika virus that is wrecking havoc in Latin America, Protein Sciences announced.

The company is partnering with Buenos Aries-based Sinergium Biotech and the Mundo Sano Foundation on the vaccine, which will utilize Protein Sciences' proprietary technology. Sinergium will pay an undisclosed upfront fee to fund the development and manufacture of the vaccine, and Mundo will assist in various ways, including reaching those affected by the disease.

"We are very pleased to partner with Sinergium Biotech and Mundo Sano on our Zika vaccine," said Manon Cox, President and CEO of Protein Sciences, in a statement. "Their focus on vaccine development and manufacturing make them a natural fit for the adoption of our technology."

She added, "We initiated Zika vaccine development in February and are rapidly advancing vaccine candidates to the clinic. Sinergium's proximity to the heart of the outbreak opens up channels of support that would otherwise be inaccessible."

The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently confirmed that the Zika virus causes severe brain defeats. Connecticut had its first confirmed case of the disease in March.

Protein Sciences has experience fighting diseases. It developed and manufactures Flublok, the "world's first recombinant protein-based vaccine for the prevention of seasonal influenza disease," according to the company.

About the partnership, Alejandro Gil, President and CEO of Sinergium Biotech, stated, "This is an important step for our country to prevent Zika and an important step for our company that is committed to developing safely and rapidly different vaccines for the public health. We are also very enthusiastic to cooperate with Protein Sciences. Their great scientific technology and quality standards led to previous approvals of their influenza products in markets including FDA."