ICMR considers developing vaccine against Nipah

The Indian Council of Medical Research is considering developing a vaccine against the Nipah virus, as part of a larger plan to develop a bouquet of essential vaccines. “Our biggest asset at the moment is that we have developed vaccines on diverse platforms such -- DNA vaccine, mRNA vaccine, adenoviral vector vaccine, protein subunit vaccine, and nasal vaccine -- and we can use these diverse platforms also to develop newer vaccines against diseases such as Nipah, which is required,” he added. “There will be hindrances in developing a vaccine against Nipah that we are well aware of which won’t be there in developing vaccines against a disease like dengue as it would have a large market. The US’ National Institutes of Health announced last year that it has launched early stage clinical trial of mRNA Nipah virus vaccine. “The need for a preventive Nipah virus vaccine is significant.” Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic disease that spreads between animals and people.