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First clinical trial participants received doses of the ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccine over the last week at University of Oxford. UK trial is first step to developing a vaccine against Nipah virus – a devastating disease mostly found in South-East Asia – that can be fatal in up to 75% of cases. The milestone clinical trial comes as the global health community marks the 25th anniversary of the first Nipah virus outbreaks. There are still no approved vaccines or treatments for the disease.

A man is being vaccinated in his arm by a nurse

The University of Oxford has launched a new clinical trial to test a vaccine to protect people against deadly Nipah virus. 

This is the first-in-human trial of the ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccine, being developed by researchers at the University of Oxford’s Pandemic Sciences Institute. Fifty-one people aged 18 to 55 will participate in the trial, which will be led by the Oxford Vaccine Group and is funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). 

Nipah virus is a devastating disease that can be fatal in around 75% of cases. Outbreaks have occurred in countries in South-East Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Bangladesh and India, with a recent outbreak in Kerala, India in September 2023. Nipah virus is carried by fruit bats and may also be transmitted by contact with infected animals (such as pigs) or from person-to-person via close contact.  

 

Read the full story on the University of Oxford website.