Inovio Pharmaceuticals has received a green light from the Food and Drug Administration to start human testing of its experimental vaccine for the Zika virus, writes John George for the Philadelphia Business Journal.

The vaccine is being developed by the Plymouth Meeting-based biopharmaceutical company in partnership with South Korea’s GeneOne Life Science Inc. The companies are also continuing to work with U.S. and Canadian academics to help advance Inovio’s Ebola and MERS vaccines into clinical development.

Preclinical testing of the synthetic vaccine in small and large animal models has already showed robust antibody and T-cell responses, highlighting its potential for Zika infection prevention in humans. There is currently no vaccine or therapy for the virus.

President and CEO of Inovio, Dr. J. Joseph Kim, said that 58 countries and territories have reported ongoing transmission of the Zika virus through mosquitoes.

“The incidences of viral infection and medical conditions caused by the virus are expanding, not contracting,” said Kim.

Phase-I clinical trials will start within the next several weeks on 40 health volunteers at multiple sites, including Philadelphia, with interim results due later this year.

Read more about the vaccine in the Philadelphia Business Journal by clicking here.

Read more of MONTCO Today’s coverage of the vaccine by clicking here.