New Vaccine for Nipah Virus Shows Safety and Immune Response

A novel vaccine candidate against the Nipah virus has shown promising results in a Phase 1 clinical trial, indicating its potential for both preventive use and outbreak response. Conducted by researchers from the United States, the trial evaluated the vaccine known as HeV-sG-V and was published in the peer-reviewed journal The Lancet.

The study involved 192 healthy adult participants aged between 18 and 49 years. Researchers tested three different doses of the vaccine and found that all formulations were safe and well tolerated. Notably, antibodies were detected in participants within one month of vaccination, with the immune response being particularly robust following a two-dose regimen.

The Nipah virus, first identified in Malaysia in 1999, is responsible for recurrent outbreaks in South and Southeast Asia, including India. The infection is associated with high mortality rates, ranging from 40% to as much as 75% in some instances. The World Health Organization has classified it as a high-priority pathogen due to its severe impact and the lack of approved treatments or vaccines.

The researchers from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center noted that the generation of antibodies within 30 days, combined with the sustained immunity from the two doses, suggests the vaccine could play a crucial role in managing Nipah virus outbreaks. According to the team, "the induction of antibodies within 1 month of vaccination, along with the persistence afforded by two dosages, suggests the vaccine candidate has potential for reactive outbreak control and preventive use."

The trial results were described as a significant achievement in the development of Nipah vaccines by experts from the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology in Uttar Pradesh, India. They highlighted that the findings could mark a crucial step towards addressing this global health threat.

While a single dose did not produce sufficient immunity, participants who received two doses of 100 micrograms of HeV-sG-V administered 28 days apart exhibited the highest immune responses. Researchers observed a significant increase in neutralising antibody levels just seven days after the second dose was administered.

The most frequently reported side effect was mild to moderate pain at the injection site, with no serious adverse events, hospitalisations, or deaths recorded during the study. Following these promising results, experts have called for larger Phase 2 trials to further assess the vaccine's safety profile and its efficacy in preventing Nipah virus infections.

Nipah virus disease is a zoonotic infection that can lead to acute encephalitis, severe respiratory symptoms, and in many cases, death. The urgency for effective vaccines and early detection methods is underscored by the potential for future outbreaks, making the successful development of the HeV-sG-V vaccine a significant milestone in public health efforts to combat this serious disease.