NEW DELHI, India — A team of researchers in Japan is preparing to launch a human clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a vaccine candidate against the deadly Nipah virus, with testing scheduled to begin in April.
The vaccine, developed at the University of Tokyo, is expected to enter clinical trials in Belgium, according to a report by Nikkei Asia. Researchers say the candidate could represent a significant advance against a disease that has a global fatality rate estimated between 40 percent and 75 percent.
There is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment available for Nipah virus infection.
The announcement comes as India reported two confirmed Nipah cases in West Bengal in January, underscoring renewed concern about the virus in South Asia.
The vaccine is being developed using a modified measles virus as a delivery system, into which researchers have inserted a portion of the Nipah virus’s genetic material.
“When the vaccine is introduced in humans, antigen proteins similar to those of the Nipah virus are produced,” the report said. “The immune system’s response is seen strengthening the body’s defenses, helping to prevent the onset of symptoms.”
“The modified measles virus is widely used globally for measles vaccines,” it added.
The research team has already confirmed the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness in animal studies conducted on hamsters. To assess safety in humans, the upcoming Phase 1 trial will involve 60 participants.
In a separate effort, researchers from Oxford University began Phase 2 clinical trials of another Nipah vaccine candidate in Bangladesh in December. That study is expected to enroll about 300 participants between the ages of 18 and 55.
Nipah virus infection has been designated a priority disease under the World Health Organization’s Research and Development Blueprint due to its high fatality rate and lack of approved treatments.
Nipah is a zoonotic disease primarily transmitted from bats to humans, either through direct contact or via contaminated food. The virus can also spread from animals such as pigs to humans and, in some cases, between people through close and prolonged contact, particularly in health care settings.
In humans, infection can range from no symptoms to severe respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. Global fatality rates vary widely depending on early detection and the quality of clinical care. (Source: IANS)
