Medicosnext
The University of Oxford recently conducted a groundbreaking clinical trial, marking the initiation of the first-in-human testing phase for the ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccine. Developed by researchers at the University’s Pandemic Sciences Institute, this critical trial, led by the Oxford Vaccine Group, is financially backed by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). Nipah virus, a highly lethal disease with a 75% fatality rate, has triggered outbreaks in South-East Asian nations such as Singapore, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and India, with a recent occurrence in Kerala, India, in September 2023.
The devastating virus, transmitted by fruit bats and potentially through contact with infected animals or person-to-person, lacks approved vaccines or treatments, despite being classified by the World Health Organization as a priority disease demanding urgent research. It belongs to the same family of paramyxoviruses as more well-known pathogens like measles. Professor Brian Angus, the Principal Investigator, emphasized the urgency, stating that Nipah virus was first identified in 1998 and even after 25 years, the global health community still lacks approved interventions against the Nipah virus.
The vaccine is developed using the ChAdOx1 platform, similar to the one utilized for the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The trial aligns with the Pandemic Sciences Institute’s Henipavirus Programme, striving to enhance global readiness for future outbreaks by conducting biomedical research and developing ethical frameworks to minimize disease-related stigma. Dr. In-Kyu Yoon of CEPI underscored the trial’s significance in advancing tools to combat the epidemic potential of Nipah, a virus harbored by fruit bats in areas inhabited by over two billion people. The project will run over the next 18 months, with further trials expected to follow in a Nipah-affected country.
Reference: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2024-01-11-first-human-vaccine-trial-deadly-nipah-virus-launched
