FSU researchers find possible treatment for Zika virus

A drug commonly used for tapeworm treatment could stop the spread of Zika and its associated brain damage, according to a Florida State University study.

After examining more than 6,000 chemical compounds, a team of researchers from FSU, in conjunction with John Hopkins University and the National Institutes of Health, discovered the drug Nicolsamide can stop Zika from replicating in the human body.

“We focused on compounds that have the shortest path to clinical use,” said FSU Professor of Biological Science Hengli Tang. “This is a first step toward a therapeutic that can stop transmission of this disease.”

The study concludes the drug could presently be given out by doctors, but researchers still plan to test the treatment on animals infected with the Zika virus.

See the full story at FSU's website.