New Delhi

The University of Oxford has launched the world’s first Phase II clinical trial of a Nipah virus vaccine candidate in Bangladesh, manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII). The vaccine is urgently needed as Nipah virus infections can be fatal in up to 75% of cases.

The ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccine, developed in collaboration with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), uses the same viral-vector platform as the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. According to Professor Brian Angus, chief investigator at the Oxford Vaccine Group, the vaccine targets the glycoprotein G from the Bangladesh strain, which is also effective against the India and Malaysia strains.

The Phase II trial will involve 306 healthy adults aged 18 to 55 and is being conducted in partnership with the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh. Earlier, the first-in-human Phase I trials began in Oxford in January 2024, where 51 participants have safely completed one year of follow-up. Results from this trial are expected in the coming months.

Why This Trial Matters

Nipah virus is a highly lethal zoonotic disease and is listed by the World Health Organization as a priority pathogen with pandemic potential. Since its first outbreak in Malaysia, small outbreaks occur nearly every year in Bangladesh, and occasionally in India, causing high mortality. The virus is primarily transmitted via contaminated date palm sap, with potential human-to-human spread, including among healthcare workers. Early symptoms such as fever, headache, and vomiting can escalate rapidly to encephalitis, pneumonia, and severe respiratory issues.

Conducting the Phase II trial in a region with recurrent Nipah outbreaks ensures that the vaccine’s effectiveness and safety are tested in the populations that need it most. “This is crucial for equitable access to protection against emerging infectious diseases,” Prof Angus noted.

Vaccine Stability and Production

Viral vector vaccines like ChAdOx1 are more heat-stable, maintaining potency at +5°C for several days, making them suitable for low-resource settings. The platform also allows rapid production of thousands of doses within days. Dr Umesh Shaligram, Executive Director of SII, stated that up to 100,000 doses could be produced for investigational reserves, potentially ready for emergency deployment during future Nipah outbreaks.

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The Oxford-SII collaboration marks a significant step toward addressing a deadly virus with high outbreak potential, offering hope for timely prevention and rapid response in affected regions.