🦇 Nipah Virus Vaccine Tracker Dashboard
Updated July 2026. Tracking Nipah virus (NiV) vaccine development for outbreak preparedness against this emerging zoonotic threat with 40-75% case fatality rate. First identified in Malaysia 1998, Nipah causes severe encephalitis and respiratory disease with no approved treatment or vaccine. Transmitted from fruit bats to humans directly or via pigs, with documented human-to-human transmission. WHO priority pathogen. 2025-2026 highlights: Oxford ChAdOx1 NipahB became the world's first Nipah vaccine candidate to enter Phase 2 (Bangladesh, late 2025); EMA granted PRIME designation in June 2025; CEPI/Oxford/Serum Institute of India are building a 100,000-dose investigational ready reserve (announced October 2025). Moderna's mRNA-1215 Phase 1 results were published in Nature Medicine on March 12, 2026 (40 healthy adults, safe and immunogenic). PHV02 (VSV-vectored, Public Health Vaccines LLC) launches Phase 2 in Bangladesh early 2026. This tracker monitors outbreak preparedness vaccines for healthcare workers, at-risk populations in endemic regions (Bangladesh, India, Malaysia), and rapid response stockpiles.
⚠️ HIGH PRIORITY EMERGING THREAT:
Nipah virus is a WHO Blueprint priority pathogen with pandemic potential. Case fatality rate 40-75%, no approved vaccine or treatment, documented human-to-human transmission, and spillover events occurring annually in South Asia.
Nipah Vaccines by Development Phase
40-75%
Case Fatality Rate
🧬 Phase 2 Clinical Trial
Technology
ChAdOx1 vector + NiV glycoproteins
Phase 1 Results
Safe, robust antibodies
Target
Healthcare workers, at-risk populations
Details: ChAdOx1 NiV (also referred to as ChAdOx1 NipahB) uses the same chimpanzee adenovirus vector platform as Oxford's COVID-19 vaccine. Expresses Nipah virus glycoproteins (G and F) to induce neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses. Phase 1 trial (started January 2024 in Oxford, 51 participants aged 18–55) demonstrated excellent safety and immunogenicity; all participants have safely completed at least one year of follow-up. Single-dose regimen. 2025 milestones: European Medicines Agency granted PRIME (PRIority MEdicines) designation in June 2025. In late 2025, ChAdOx1 NipahB became the world's first Nipah vaccine candidate to enter Phase 2 clinical trials, launched in Bangladesh in partnership with icddr,b under CEPI funding. On October 28, 2025, CEPI, Oxford, and Serum Institute of India announced a collaboration to create the world's largest investigational ready reserve — up to 100,000 doses of ChAdOx1 NipahB — that could be deployed under emergency use during a future Nipah outbreak.
Strategy & Timeline (updated July 2026): The Phase 2 study in Bangladesh will assess safety and immune response in an endemic-region population, including healthcare workers. Regulatory pathway likely involves WHO Emergency Use Listing based on animal efficacy + human immunogenicity data (similar to Ebola vaccines), given the sporadic outbreak pattern that makes traditional Phase 3 efficacy trials extremely difficult. Manufacturing partnerships with Serum Institute of India ensure scale for outbreak response.
🧪 Phase 1 Clinical Trials
Technology
mRNA-LNP platform
Funding
US Government + BARDA
Preclinical
Complete protection in NHP
Description: mRNA-1215 encodes Nipah virus glycoproteins using Moderna's proven mRNA-LNP technology. Preclinical studies showed complete protection in non-human primates against lethal Nipah challenge. Phase 1 trial launched 2024 assessing safety and immunogenicity in healthy volunteers. Two-dose regimen (0, 28 days). Advantages: rapid manufacturing (weeks vs months), thermostability improvements, dose-sparing potential, proven platform from COVID-19 success. Could enable rapid pandemic response if Nipah gains efficient human-to-human transmission. US government strategic interest for biodefense and outbreak preparedness.
Technology
rVSV vector (licensed Ebola platform)
Preclinical
Protection in African green monkeys
Description: Uses recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) vector expressing Nipah glycoproteins - same platform as licensed Ebola vaccine Ervebo. Single-dose regimen. Preclinical studies in African green monkeys demonstrated protection against lethal Nipah challenge. Phase 1 safety trials ongoing. Major advantage: proven vector platform with regulatory approval for Ebola, established manufacturing, and known safety profile. CEPI-funded. Partnership with Merck provides manufacturing scale-up capability. Could rapidly deploy if safety/immunogenicity confirmed.
Technology
Humanized mAb cocktail
Use Case
Post-exposure prophylaxis, treatment
Preclinical
100% survival in NHP (post-exposure)
Description: Cocktail of humanized monoclonal antibodies targeting Nipah virus glycoproteins. Preclinical studies showed 100% survival in non-human primates when administered post-exposure. Phase 1 safety trials in healthy volunteers. Intended for post-exposure prophylaxis of healthcare workers and contacts, plus potential therapeutic use in infected patients. Complements vaccine strategies. Could be deployed immediately after outbreak detection. Manufacturing being scaled for emergency stockpile. Similar approach successful for Ebola (mAb cocktails now standard of care).
🔬 Preclinical Development
Description: Self-amplifying RNA encoding Nipah glycoproteins with built-in replicase. Requires 10-100x lower doses than conventional mRNA. Hamster studies demonstrate complete protection with microgram doses. Potential for single-dose, thermostable outbreak response vaccine. Could enable rapid mass vaccination if Nipah outbreak expands.
Description: VLPs displaying Nipah glycoproteins in native conformation. Enhanced immunogenicity from repetitive antigen display. Ferret studies show robust neutralizing antibodies. Stable at 2-8°C. Could enable stockpiling for outbreak response. No live virus components - excellent safety profile.
Platforms: (1) DNA vaccines with electroporation - thermostable, long shelf life; (2) Nanoparticle subunit vaccines - protein antigens on synthetic scaffolds; (3) Paramyxovirus-vectored vaccines - live-attenuated platforms; (4) Pan-henipavirus vaccines - targeting both Nipah and Hendra viruses.