EU drug agency sets up Zika task force to speed vaccine work

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Monday it had established an expert task force on Zika to advise companies working on vaccines and medicines against the virus, which is suspected of causing a spike in birth defects in Brazil. Currently there are no approved vaccines or medicines and none even undergoing clinical studies. “The agency is encouraging medicines developers to contact EMA if they have any promising projects in this area.