Measles Is Becoming So Common That Treatments May Soon Be Needed
Measles cases in the US have reached a 35-year high, prompting biotech firms to explore new monoclonal antibody treatments for infected individuals. While vaccines remain the primary defense, researchers are seeking options for those who are immunocompromised or unvaccinated.
Why it matters
The resurgence of a preventable disease highlights critical public health challenges and the potential need for new therapeutic interventions.
But as measles cases hit a 35-year high and vaccination rates continue to decline in the US, a handful of biotech companies and academic groups have started working on measles treatments for those infected with the virus as well as vulnerable individuals needing short-term protection. It will likely be years, however, before these countermeasures are available, and it’s even more uncertain if those who refuse vaccines would take such treatments.
Fueled by large outbreaks in South Carolina and Utah, the US had already surpassed last year’s 2,289 measles cases, and it’s only July. For comparison, there were just 285 cases in all of 2024.
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