As the Nipah cases in India raise worries across Asia, a new study by Chinese researchers has claimed that an existing oral antiviral medication can help prevent the spread of the deadly virus. VV116, a nucleoside drug, was originally developed to treat Covid-19. How does it work against the Nipah virus?
The emergence of the Nipah virus infections in India has raised concerns across Asia. While there were reports that five cases have been reported in West Bengal recently, the Union health ministry on Tuesday (January 27) clarified that only two infections have been confirmed since last month in the state.
Nipah virus (NiV) can be fatal, with a high mortality rate of 40 per cent to 75 per cent. A new study has found that an oral antiviral medication could help manage outbreaks of the deadly virus that has no vaccine or cure.
We take a look.
Can Chinese drug tackle Nipah?
A joint research by Chinese scientists has found that an existing oral antiviral drug can help battle the Nipah virus.
The study titled The oral nucleoside drug VV116 is a promising candidate for treating Nipah virus infection was published in the international journal Emerging Microbes & Infections recently. The paper revealed that VV116, the nucleoside drug originally developed to treat Covid-19, can be used to prevent the spread of Nipah, according to a South China Morning Post (SCMP) report.
The oral antiviral drug demonstrated significant antiviral activity against the
Nipah virus, researchers say. VV116 is approved for the treatment of Covid-19 in China and Uzbekistan.
How Covid drug worked against Nipah
An oral dose of VV116 prevented Nipah virus strains in laboratory settings, improving survival rates in animal trials, as per researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
The drug enhanced the survival rate of golden hamsters to 66.7 per cent. It also reduced the amount of the virus present in key target organs, such as the lungs, spleen and brain.
The Nipah virus is transmitted from animals to humans when they come in contact with the bodily fluids of infected bats and pigs. The virus could lead to respiratory problems and even encephalitis in some cases.
The Chinese drug and its active byproducts significantly inhibited the Nipah virus, including both the “Malaysia strain” (NiV-M) and the “Bangladesh strain” (NiV-B) in lab settings.
As per SCMP, the Bangladeshi strains of the Nipah virus are behind the outbreaks in India.
Why the study matters
Currently, there is no cure or vaccine for the Nipah virus. Due to its high fatality rate, a treatment or cure is the hour of the need.
Studies have found several compounds that inhibit Nipah virus infection. However, no drugs have been licensed for clinical use so far.
The latest findings affirmed VV116’s therapeutic potential against Nipah virus infection, showing that it can be used as a preventive treatment for high-risk groups.
“This finding is the first to demonstrate the therapeutic potential of VV116 against Nipah virus,” the Wuhan Institute of Virology said on Monday.
“It can be used not only as a preventive drug for high-risk groups such as healthcare workers and laboratory workers, but also as a readily available drug option for dealing with current and future Nipah virus outbreaks,” the institute said.
Vigonvita Life Science Co, a China-based biopharma company, said on Tuesday that the preclinical data signal that VV116 has the potential to be developed as a treatment for the Nipah virus. The firm said that it will closely monitor related outbreak trends and initiate clinical trials for treatment and post-exposure prevention when needed, thepaper.cn reported on Tuesday.
The Chinese scientists have said more research is needed to detect how VV116 inhibited the Nipah virus. However, they suggested the drug could follow a similar mechanism to its anti-coronavirus activity.
The researchers also stated that, as the oral medication’s safety for human use is established, it should be considered as a therapeutic option for the Nipah virus.
Nipah fears in Asia
Two confirmed cases of the Nipah virus have been reported at a private hospital in Barasat in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district recently.
“A total of 196 contacts linked to the confirmed cases have been identified, traced, monitored, and tested. All traced contacts have been found asymptomatic and have tested negative for Nipah Virus Disease,” the Union Health Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
“No additional Nipah Virus Disease cases have been detected so far,” the ministry said, urging the public to rely only on verified information from official sources. It emphasised that the situation was being constantly monitored and all necessary public health measures are in place.
The resurgence of the
Nipah virus cases in West Bengal has raised worries in China ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, when millions travel.
Thailand has also started screening passengers at three international airports in Bangkok and Phuket that receive flights from the Indian state.
Nepal is screening arrivals at Kathmandu airport and other land border points with India.
Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong have also implemented preventive measures or started monitoring the incurable virus.
With inputs from agencies
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