Yet another battle may erupt over a Zika virus vaccine and the extent to which drug makers should be allowed to benefit from products that are developed — at least in part — with taxpayer funds. There is an added twist in this case, however, in the form of potential conflicts of interest.
Let’s start at the top: Last month, the National Institutes of Health announced plans to issue an exclusive license to a privately held company called PaxVax to develop a Zika vaccine. Few details were disclosed, but the move is now prompting demands from advocacy groups that the federal government should not award an exclusive license or, if it does, should ensure that any vaccine is priced so it is accessible to Americans.
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