FDA grants fast track status to Moderna’s Zika vaccine

Moderna, a biotechnology company, has secured fast track designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its investigational Zika vaccine, mRNA-1893.

At present, the mRNA-1893 vaccine is being assessed in a phase 1 study to prevent Zika virus infection in healthy adults.

The mRNA-1893 included an mRNA sequence that encodes for the structural proteins of Zika virus. It is designed to help cells to secrete virus-like particles, helping to mimic the response of the cell after natural infection.