New Nipah virus vaccine safe, generates immune response: The Lancet
New Delhi, Dec 23
A phase 1 randomised clinical trial of a novel Nipah virus vaccine, led by US researchers, may soon pave the way to prevent the deadly infection.
All three doses and regimens of the vaccine named HeV-sG-V demonstrated to be safe and generated an immune response, according to the researchers in the study published in the journal The Lancet.
"The induction of antibodies within 1 month of vaccination, along with the persistence afforded by two dosages, suggests the vaccine candidate has potential for reactive outbreak control and preventive use," said the team from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC).
First discovered in 1999 in Malaysia, Nipah virus (NiV) causes yearly outbreaks throughout south and southeast Asia, especially in India, with associated mortality rates of 40-75 per cent.
The World Health Organization has listed the Nipah virus as a high-priority pathogen because it kills up to 82 per cent of people who are infected, and there are no approved treatments or vaccines to prevent it.
The findings represent a "milestone" in the development of Nipah vaccines, said scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology in Uttar Pradesh, India, in an accompanying editorial in The Lancet.
The phase 1 trial included 192 healthy participants aged between 18 and 49 years.
While a single dose was not sufficient, two doses were immunogenic, with the highest response rates observed among vaccinees that received two doses of the 100 microgram of HeV-sG-V 28 days apart.
The neutralising antibody titres rose dramatically 7 days after the second investigational product dose.
Mild-to-moderate injection site pain was the most commonly reported adverse event. No serious adverse events, hospitalisations, or deaths were reported.
In the editorial, experts from the ICMR-NIV said the new vaccine should be tested in a larger, phase 2 trial, which could shed more light on safety, as well as how much protection the vaccine might provide.
Nipah virus disease is an emerging zoonotic infectious disease caused by the Nipah virus (NiV). It can cause acute encephalitis, severe respiratory illness, and, in many cases, death.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great step forward, but the real test is affordability and distribution. Will this vaccine be priced for global health or will it be another expensive drug out of reach for the people who need it most in rural India? The research is US-led, which often raises cost concerns.
Mortality rate of 40-75% is terrifying. The fact that ICMR-NIV scientists are calling it a milestone gives me confidence. Hope our own institutions can collaborate deeply on the next phases. Jai Hind to our scientists as well!
As someone who lived through the Nipah scare in Kerala a few years ago, this news is a huge relief. The speed of antibody generation (within 1 month) is crucial for outbreak control. Fingers crossed for the next trial stages.
Safety profile looks promising with no serious events. But two doses 28 days apart might be a logistical challenge in a rapid outbreak scenario. Still, a preventive vaccine would be a game-changer. Hope the government starts planning for procurement and cold chain logistics now itself.
Excellent development. But we must not forget the zoonotic origin. Alongside vaccine research, we need stronger policies on wildlife trade and habitat encroachment to prevent spillover in the first place. Prevention is better than cure.
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