Chinese scientists said that a oral antiviral drug used in the treatment of COVID-19 has shown significant inhibitory effects on the Nipah virus, opening up a new approach in preventing and treating this highly fatal infectious disease.
According to an announcement from the Wuhan Institute of Virusology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, VV116 - approved for COVID-19 treatment in China and Uzbekistan - showed clear antiviral activity against the Nipah virus in preclinical trials. The study was conducted by an interdisciplinary scientific team from the Wuhan Institute of Virusology, the Shanghai Institute of Pharmacy and Vigonvita Life Science Company.
The Nipah virus was first recorded in Malaysia in 1998 and has since become a major public health concern with a mortality rate of 40% to 70%. WHO has classified this virus as a high priority area threat due to lack of vaccines or specific treatments, and widespread hosts. Earlier this year, West Bengal state of India recorded new infections, along with hundreds of people in close contact being quarantined.
The research results, published in the international journal Emerging Microbes & Infections, show that VV116 and the drug's metabolites have the ability to strongly inhibit both Nipah virus strains, the Malaysian and the Bangladeshi strains, in cell culture environments. In the experimental model of causing deadly dose infection on golden hamsters, administering VV116 at a dose of 400 mg/kg helped increase the survival rate to 66.7% and significantly reduce viral load in the lungs, spleen and brain.
These data confirm the treatment potential of VV116 for Nipah virus infection, suggesting that the drug may be considered as a preventive measure for high-risk groups such as medical staff, laboratory staff, and as a readily available option when responding to outbreaks in the present and future.
Vigonvita Life Science said it will closely monitor epidemiological developments related to the Nipah virus and is ready to conduct clinical trials for treatment and post-exposure prevention when necessary. Some pharmaceutical experts believe that, despite promising initial results, VV116 still needs to undergo rigorous clinical research before being widely used.
Mr. Wang Xinyu - Deputy Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases of Hoa Son Hospital under Fudan University - said that monitoring data from WHO and disease control centers shows that India is in a positive transmission phase of the Nipah virus, with small-scale outbreaks but high mortality rates. He affirmed that no infections have been recorded in mainland China and recommended that the public remain calm, maintain good hygiene, and trust in scientific surveillance measures.
