Legislation would add Zika virus to FDA program that helps expedite vaccine, drug development

U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., applauded Senate passage of legislation he co-sponsored that would help accelerate the development of vaccines and treatments for the Zika virus.

The legislation would add the Zika virus to the Food and Drug Administration’s Priority Review Voucher Program to encourage the expeditious development of vaccine and drugs to address the public health threat posed by the mosquito-borne virus that has spread rapidly throughout South and Central America and has also infected American travelers in the last several months.

“The Zika virus poses a serious national public health threat, and Georgia, along with other Southeastern states, is in the firing line for potential outbreaks,” said Sen. Isakson, a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. “With its rapid rise of outbreaks in the United States now nearing 200 cases, we need to take action. I encourage the House to act swiftly and pass this bill to help encourage the development of vaccines and treatments for the Zika virus.”

Over the past year, more than 1 million people have been infected by the Zika virus in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The type of mosquito involved in transmitting the virus is also found in many parts of the United States. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, headquartered in Atlanta, is actively monitoring the spread of this outbreak.

The World Health Organization recently labeled Zika virus a global public health emergency and at this time there is no known vaccine or treatment for the virus. The most common symptoms of the virus are mild, but in certain cases reports suggest it may be associated with serious birth defects—including microcephaly, which has been linked to developmental delays and other life-threatening problems for newborns.

The legislation, introduced by Isakson along with Sens. Al Franken, D-Minn., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Bill Nelson, D-Fla., previously passed the Senate health committee on March 9, 2016. The U.S. House of Representatives will now vote on the bipartisan legislation following passage by the full Senate on Thursday, March 17, 2016.