Japan to start human trials for Nipah vaccine in April
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New Delhi: A team of Japanese researchers has announced plans to begin clinical trials to test the efficacy of a vaccine against the deadly Nipah virus in humans.
The vaccine candidate, developed at the University of Tokyo, is scheduled to enter clinical trials in Belgium this April, according to Nikkei Asia, a Japan-based English-language news publication.
This new vaccine represents a potential breakthrough against a disease with a high fatality rate, estimated between 40 and 75 per cent. Currently, there is no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for Nipah virus infection.
The development comes shortly after India reported two confirmed cases of Nipah virus in West Bengal in January.
The vaccine is reportedly being created by inserting a portion of the Nipah virus's genetic material into the measles virus. “When introduced in humans, antigen proteins similar to those of the Nipah virus are produced. The immune system responds, strengthening the body’s defenses and helping prevent the onset of symptoms,” the report explained. It added that the modified measles virus has been widely used in global measles vaccination programs.
The research team has already demonstrated the vaccine’s safety and efficacy in animal trials involving hamsters. To assess safety in humans, the Phase 1 clinical trial will involve 60 participants.
Separately, a team from Oxford University began Phase 2 trials of a Nipah vaccine candidate in Bangladesh in December, with approximately 300 volunteers aged 18 to 55 expected to participate.
The Nipah virus, a zoonotic disease, primarily spreads from bats to humans, either directly or through contaminated food. Transmission can also occur from animals such as pigs to humans and, in some cases, between people through close, prolonged contact—particularly in healthcare settings.
In humans, Nipah virus infection can range from asymptomatic illness to severe respiratory disease and fatal encephalitis. The global case fatality rate ranges from 40 to 75 per cent, depending on early detection and the quality of clinical care.
The virus has been designated a priority disease under the World Health Organization’s Research and Development Blueprint.
With IANS inputs