Scientists are working on a hantavirus vaccine - but it’s likely years away

Key Points:

• The recent hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship has renewed attention on developing a vaccine for the virus, which has historically seen limited investment due to sporadic outbreaks and its prevalence in poorer regions.
• EnsiliTech, a UK-based biotech company, has been developing an mRNA-based hantavirus vaccine for 15 years, focusing on the hantaan virus strain common in East Asia, with innovations like "ensilication" to allow room-temperature transport.
• The vaccine is still in preclinical stages with rodent trials completed, and human trials are estimated to begin in three to four years; without emergency funding similar to Operation Warp Speed, full development could take an additional five years.
• Other hantavirus vaccines exist in China and South Korea but show mixed results and are not widely available; U.S. military interest in hantavirus vaccines dates back to World War II, but overall funding remains limited due to the virus's rare global outbreaks.
• Experts emphasize that commercial incentives are lacking because hantaviruses primarily affect regions with limited financial resources, resulting in stalled vaccine development efforts despite the virus's potential severity.