Health authorities in India have notified the World Health Organization of two laboratory-confirmed cases of Nipah virus (NiV) in West Bengal. Both cases involve healthcare workers at a private hospital in Barasat, highlighting the persistent risk of human-to-human transmission in clinical settings. While over 190 contacts have since tested negative, the event underscores a critical absence of licensed vaccines or therapeutics for a pathogen with a case-fatality rate reaching 75%.
Nipah virus vaccine landscape
Nipah virus is classified as a priority pathogen under the WHO R&D Blueprint. The recurrence of NiV in West Bengal – the third time in the history of the state – explicitly demonstrates that fruit bats act as a persistent viral reservoir. These events are no longer isolated anomalies but recurring threats.
For the pharmaceutical industry, the challenge in developing an effective therapy for the virus lies in its high mutation rate and the high biocontainment requirements required for research. However, there is hope on the horizon as 2026 marks the start of Phase 2 clinical trials for the University of Oxford’s NipahB vaccine – the first of its kind to reach this stage.
“Oxford’s Nipah virus vaccine candidate is the most advanced vaccine against this highly lethal virus,” said Dr Kent Kester, Executive Director of Vaccine Research and Development, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). “The start of this Phase 2 trial is a first of its kind and represents the culmination of years of cutting-edge research and global scientific collaboration.
Nevertheless, trial organisers acknowledge that expanding trials to affected regions is key. “Starting a Phase 2 trial in a country affected by regular Nipah outbreaks is a critical step in making sure this vaccine is both effective and accessible,” said Prof Brian Angus, University of Oxford, and chief investigator of the Oxford trial. “It’s an essential part of ensuring equitable access to protection against emerging infectious diseases.”
Strategic manufacturing and repurposing
The vaccine is being produced in collaboration with the Serum Institute of India, which plans to manufacture an investigational reserve of 100,000 vaccine doses for emergency use.
“By advancing clinical testing and manufacturing thousands of vaccine doses… we’re creating a state of readiness against Nipah outbreaks,” noted Dr Amadou Sall, Executive Director of Manufacturing and Supply, CEPI.
Alongside vaccine development, pharma companies are also exploring the repurposing of existing drugs, with potential oncology candidates identified that may inhibit the NiV polymerase.
With the WHO assessing the risk posed by NiV as moderate at the sub-national level, the pharma sector’s role is becoming increasingly urgent in preventing localised outbreaks from escalating into global health threats.
