Sunday 01/February/2026 – 01:02 PM
The University of Tokyo is preparing to launch the first phase of human clinical trials on a new vaccine against the Nipah virus, next April, in a step that is the first of its kind in the world to confront one of the most dangerous viruses of animal origin.
The project comes with financial support from the Japanese government advanced research and development agency known as Skarda.
Japan begins the first human trials on a promising vaccine to combat the Nipah virus
The developed vaccine relies on a technology that uses the measles virus as a basis. When injected, it stimulates the body to produce proteins similar to those found in the Nipah virus, which helps the immune system recognize and resist the virus before the infection develops.
The University of Tokyo research team had proven the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine through laboratory experiments conducted on animals, including hamsters and primates, where the results showed the vaccine’s ability to provide complete protection from infection, according to what was reported by the Calper IZ portal.
The first phase of human trials is scheduled to begin in Belgium, and the scope of the tests will later be expanded to include adults and children in Bangladesh during the second half of 2027, if the initial results prove the success and safety of the vaccine.
The Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that is transmitted to humans through fruit bats or pigs. The infection can also be transmitted through eating foods contaminated with secretions from infected animals. The virus causes acute respiratory infections and encephalitis, with mortality rates ranging between 40 and 80 percent.
Since its discovery in 1998, about a thousand cases of the virus have been recorded, with repeated outbreaks observed in South and Southeast Asia, especially during the date palm juice harvesting seasons.
Despite the mounting fears, the World Health Organization recently confirmed that the risk of the virus spreading at the national and global levels remains low, and does not require imposing restrictions on travel or trade.
