VGXI Inc. in The Woodlands manufacturing Zika vaccine

THE WOODLANDS, Texas — In response to the recent Zika virus outbreak, a vaccine is being manufactured at VGXI Inc. in The Woodlands.

Fever, headache, rash, muscle pain, conjunctivitis and joint pain are the symptoms of the Zika virus. According to the CDC, the relatively unknown virus threatens us today. Transmitted sexually or through certain species of mosquito, the virus has proven to cause many of these symptoms to a mild degree but has not been proven to be deadly as of yet.

The real danger of the Zika virus is to fetuses and can cause microcephaly, which harms brain development. The result is a relatively undetectable virus with symptoms that are easy to ignore but can cause potentially fatal birth defects to fetuses in pregnant women who are unaware they are even infected.

Science is already taking steps to fight back with leaders in technology like VGXI Inc., a contract manufacturer of DNA plasmids based in The Woodlands. They have recently manufactured a vaccine for the Zika virus for GeneOne Life Science, Inc., the sponsor of the clinical trial.

“[The vaccine] targets a specific part of the DNA in the immune system,” Dorothy Peterson, Vice President of Operations at VGXI, said. “DNA is coded; they look for that region [of DNA] that will specifically target the portion of the immune system that would fight the virus.”

While the Zika virus is largely terrifying to the public, it is still just a virus, and one that human bodies are equipped to deal with. By activating the exact immune response immediately, the virus cannot gain a foothold. This vaccine is no longer a far-off dream, and clinical testing on humans will begin soon, Peterson said. Several still wonder if this is end of the Zika virus.

“With what we know today? Yes. It has very positive results,” Peterson said.

Officials say that while the vaccine for the Zika virus can bring a halt to the recent outbreak, the disease is still a virus in nature and can change over time and affect future generations.

“What we don’t know, is if Zika is like a lot of other viruses that keep changing. Is it right for today’s virus? Will it be right for tomorrow’s? That we don’t know.”

For more information about VGXI Inc., visit their website at vgxii.com.