The trial of the ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccine, developed by researchers at the University of Oxford's Pandemic Sciences Institute, will involve 51 people aged 18 to 55, the university said in a statement.
Nipah virus is a potentially fatal disease in approximately 75% of cases. Outbreaks have occurred in Southeast Asian countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and India, with a recent outbreak occurring in Kerala, India in September 2023.
Nipah virus is transmitted by fruit bats and can also be transmitted from person to person through contact or close contact with infected animals (such as pigs).
Despite the Nipah virus first emerging in Malaysia and Singapore 25 years ago, there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.
“Nipah virus was first identified in 1998, but after 25 years in the global health community there is still no approved vaccine or treatment for this devastating disease,” said Brian Angus, principal investigator for the trial and professor at the University’s Nuffield School of Medicine. said the professor.
“The high mortality rate and nature of Nipah virus transmission identify the disease as a priority infectious disease pathogen. “This vaccine trial is an important milestone in finding solutions that can help prevent local outbreaks while also helping the world prepare for future global pandemics.”
Recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a priority disease requiring urgent research, Nipah virus belongs to the same paramyxovirus family as better-known pathogens such as measles.
Scientists have produced a vaccine against Nipah virus using the ChAdOx1 platform, the same viral vector vaccine platform used in the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, which has saved around 6 million lives worldwide.
The project is expected to take place over the next 18 months, with further trials expected to take place in Nipah-affected countries.