Up until recently, the measles vaccine was so effective that there’s been little incentive for medical innovation in treating the disease. However, with measles cases hitting a 35-year high and vaccination rates declining, biotech firms are now developing treatments for infected individuals and those needing short-term protection.

Fueled by outbreaks in South Carolina and Utah, the US has already surpassed last year’s 2,289 cases, with many more expected this summer. For comparison, there were just 285 cases in all of 2024. At least 95 percent vaccination is needed to protect immunocompromised individuals and infants too young for vaccines.

Measles is highly contagious, making it difficult to prevent outbreaks even with high vaccination rates. Young children are most susceptible to severe complications, such as pneumonia, deafness, and potentially fatal brain damage. Without a specific treatment, doctors rely on supportive care like preventing dehydration and managing breathing difficulties.

‘What we’re seeing now as we get a resurgence of measles in communities is a horrible lack of options when somebody gets exposed,’ says Michael Mina, an epidemiologist and chief medical officer at Invivyd. Whether these treatments will be enough remains uncertain, especially for those who refuse vaccination.