A recent phase 1 clinical trial led by US researchers has shown promising results for a new Nipah virus vaccine. The vaccine, known as HeV-sG-V, was found to be safe and effective in generating an immune response in all three doses and regimens tested.
Researchers noted that the vaccine induced antibodies within a month of vaccination, with two doses providing lasting protection. This suggests the potential for using the vaccine in both reactive outbreak control and preventive measures. The study was published in The Lancet journal.
The Nipah virus, first discovered in Malaysia in 1999, causes annual outbreaks in parts of Asia, including India, with mortality rates ranging from 40 to 75 percent. Given the lack of approved treatments or vaccines for the virus, the World Health Organization has classified it as a high-priority pathogen.
Experts from the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology hailed the trial findings as a significant milestone in Nipah vaccine development. They emphasized the need for further testing in larger phase 2 trials to assess safety and efficacy.
The phase 1 trial involved 192 healthy participants aged 18 to 49 years. While a single dose was not sufficient, two doses of the vaccine were found to be immunogenic, with the best response rates seen in participants who received two doses of 100 micrograms of HeV-sG-V 28 days apart. Adverse events were mild-to-moderate, with injection site pain being the most commonly reported issue.
