USAMRIID Completes Phase 1 Andes Virus DNA Vaccine Trial in 48 Adults, With Commercialization Still Distant
Updated
Updated · dongascience.com · May 18
USAMRIID Completes Phase 1 Andes Virus DNA Vaccine Trial in 48 Adults, With Commercialization Still Distant
1 articles · Updated · dongascience.com · May 18
USAMRIID reported Phase 1 results for an Andes virus DNA vaccine after testing 48 healthy adults in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial using the needle-free PharmaJet Stratis device.
More than 80% of vaccinated participants maintained an antibody response for over 337 days, while most adverse reactions were mild to moderate.
The progress comes as confirmed Andes virus cases on the MV Hondius cruise ship renewed attention on the pathogen, which causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome with fatality rates of up to 50% and still has no approved vaccine or treatment.
In South Korea, Korea University's Vaccine Innovation Center has finished animal studies for an mRNA vaccine targeting Hantaan and Seoul viruses and aims for Phase 1 trials in 2028, while broader Andes coverage remains an early-stage goal.
Commercial use of an Andes vaccine remains years away, though parallel work also includes SAB-1634, a USAMRIID-linked antibody therapy that showed activity against Andes virus and three other variants in animal models.
With rival mRNA and DNA vaccines in trials, which breakthrough will shield humanity from the deadly Andes virus first?
A fatal virus has a potential vaccine but no market. How will we create life-saving drugs when a profit is not possible?
This outbreak revealed a critical diagnostic blind spot. What other deadly pathogens are we unprepared to detect until it is too late?
Andes Virus Outbreak 2026: Cruise Ship Cluster Spurs Breakthroughs and Challenges in Vaccine Development
Overview
In May 2026, a major Andes virus outbreak linked to an Atlantic cruise ship drew global attention due to its high fatality rate and the unique risks posed by confined, communal travel environments. Although the virus usually spreads only through close, prolonged contact, the cruise ship setting made containment difficult and highlighted the urgent need for effective countermeasures. This incident underscored the challenges of controlling infectious diseases in modern travel scenarios and emphasized the importance of developing vaccines and public health strategies to prevent future outbreaks.