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a vaccine for lethal nipah virus Ready for phase two trials in a major breakthrough towards prevention fatal outbreak,
nipah virus There is a deadly disease that currently does not exist approved vaccine or treatmentAnd can be fatal in 75 percent of cases.
It was first recognized During an outbreak among pig farmers in 1999 malaysiaIt was also found in Bangladesh in 2001, and there have been almost annual outbreaks in that country since then, This disease has also occurred in Eastern India,
Of the 750 cases reported since 1998, there have been 415 deaths. Due to its pandemic potential it has been recognized as a research priority by the World Health Organization.
Early symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting and sore throat. These can rapidly turn into acute encephalitis, pneumonia and serious respiratory problems.
First human trial of ChAdOx, developed by scientists at Oxford University1The Nipah vaccine was launched in Oxford in January 2024 under the leadership of the Oxford Vaccine Group.
51 people aged 18 to 55 have safely completed a year of follow-up in the Oxford trial and results are expected in the coming months.
Phase II trials for the vaccine, in partnership with and funded by the International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), launched earlier this month and will enroll 306 healthy participants aged 18 to 55.
Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert, the vaccine’s developer and Professor of Vaccinology at the Institute of Epidemiology, Oxford, said: “This new trial in Bangladesh is an important step forward in our work to develop a vaccine against Nipah virus, a deadly health threat that currently has no approved vaccine or treatment.
“The progress we have made so far – with the support of our partners and funders – is testament to the value of international cooperation and long-term investment in pandemic preparedness.”
Professor Brian Angus, principal investigator of the trial at the Oxford Vaccine Group, said: “Starting the Phase 2 trial in a country affected by regular Nipah outbreaks is an important step to ensure that this vaccine is effective and relevant for those who need it most. It is an essential part of ensuring equitable access to protection against emerging infectious diseases.”
The zoonotic virus is spread by fruit bats and its main route of transmission is drinking the juice of contaminated dates. Humans can also become infected through an intermediate animal host, or by person-to-person spread, including through healthcare workers.
Evidence of the virus has been found in bat species in several countries, including Cambodia, Ghana, Indonesia, Madagascar, the Philippines and Thailand.
Dr. Kent Kester, CEPI’s Executive Director of Vaccine Research and Development, said, “Oxford’s Nipah virus vaccine candidate is the most advanced vaccine against this highly lethal virus. The initiation of this Phase 2 trial is the first of its kind and represents the culmination of years of cutting-edge research and global scientific collaboration.”
He said: “Hopefully the results of this study will bring us one step closer towards protecting vulnerable populations against future deadly Nipah outbreaks and will help inform the development of other paramyxovirus countermeasures.”