Opinion: How to speed up drug and vaccine development during a public health crisis
During a public health crisis, repurposing an existing drug or vaccine for a different use can help shave some time off the development of a new treatment.
During public health crises involving infectious diseases like Ebola or Zika, we sometimes hear people ask, “Why can’t they just make a vaccine or a drug for it?” It’s a great question, with a complex answer.
To start developing a drug or vaccine, you have to understand exactly what causes the disease, and how. With that information in hand, it may be possible to identify potential targets for a treatment. That kind of basic research often takes years. Then add a few
