Giant Sanofi SA paused development of a Zika virus vaccine candidate in response to funding cuts by the US government. Last year the French drugmakekr was granted $43 million from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)

As Ashleigh Koss, a spokeswoman for Sanofi, wrote in an email: “BARDA has informed us they intend to continue to fund activities required to advance vaccine development to a point where development would be indefinitely paused but could be restarted if the epidemic re-emerges,”

BARDA has indeed  “decided to focus on a more limited set of goals and deliverables” based on its review of all Zika-related projects after a decline in new infections.

“Sanofi will be “completing, with partial BARDA support,” an ongoing study intended to provide guidance on Zika epidemiology and diagnosis “that can be applicable to any vaccine subsequently developed,” Koss wrote. The study, which is being conducted in Colombia, Honduras, Mexico and Puerto Rico, is seeking enrollment of 2,400 volunteers, the company said.

As Sanofi places its Zika vaccine on hold, others, including its research partner, forge forward.

The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research said studies of the are vaccine ongoing, with results under review at a scientific journal.

novio Pharmaceuticals is also continuing separate efforts to develop a DNA-based vaccine candidate to protect against Zika, according to Jeff Richardson, a spokesman for the company.

Read further: CNN