In the letter, nine members of the Florida House of Representatives expressed concern over the affordability of the Zika vaccine once Sanofi brings it to market. In December, the Army announced it would transfer the technology used to develop the vaccine to Sanofi, as the company is capable of conducting large-scale clinical trials. The drugmaker previously denied a request from the U.S. Army to set an affordable price for the vaccine, for which the Army and the National Institutes of Health have conducted all the pre-clinical trials for, according to the Herald.
“As members representing Florida, we are especially concerned of the potential for monopolistic practices that would effectively keep this lifesaving vaccine out of reach for far too many of our constituents,” wrote the representatives. “Taxpayers who have endowed the research and development of a Zika vaccine that would keep Americans Zika-free and prevent deadly birth defects in babies, should be protected from high prices; not forced to pay more than anyone else around the globe.”
In September 2016, HHS awarded Sanofi more than $43 million for the development of the Zika vaccine.
More articles on the Zika virus:
Zika pesticide linked to motor function deficits in babies, study finds
One-dose Zika vaccine may prevent sexual transmission of the virus
CDC: 5% of pregnant women in US territories with Zika had baby or fetus with birth defects
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