A promising mRNA vaccine against the Nipah virus shows good tolerance and a durable immune response
The Nipah virus poses a serious threat to global health due to its high mortality rate and ability to spread between animals and humans, and even from person to person. Primarily transmitted by bats or intermediate animals such as pigs, it causes severe respiratory illnesses and encephalitis. Until now, no approved vaccine or treatment existed to combat it.
A team of researchers tested a new mRNA vaccine, called mRNA-1215, designed to protect against this virus. Forty healthy adults participated in this Phase 1 clinical trial. They received two injections of the vaccine four weeks apart, at varying doses ranging from 10 to 100 micrograms. The results show that the vaccine is well tolerated. The most common side effects were mild pain at the injection site and a temporary feeling of fatigue. No serious effects were observed, confirming the safety of the product.
As early as two weeks after the first injection, the vaccine triggered the production of antibodies capable of neutralizing the virus. This response strengthened after the second dose and remained high for at least one year. The vaccine also stimulated immune responses against other strains closely related to the Nipah virus, such as the one present in Bangladesh, as well as against a related virus, the Hendra virus. This suggests it could provide broad protection against several similar diseases.
Immune reactions were comparable across all tested doses, although higher doses maintained slightly more stable antibody levels over the long term. Participants developed both antibodies and specific immune cells, which are essential for effective protection.
This vaccine uses an innovative approach by targeting two viral proteins instead of one, which enhances its efficacy and reduces the risk of the virus evading the immune response. These encouraging results pave the way for further trials, particularly in regions where the Nipah virus circulates regularly. Such an advance could play a key role in preventing future outbreaks.
Sources
About This Study
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04265-1
Title: A structure-based mRNA vaccine for Nipah virus in healthy adults: a phase 1 trial
Journal: Nature Medicine
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Authors: Aurélie Ploquin; Rosemarie D. Mason; LaSonji A. Holman; Myra Happe; Alicia T. Widge; Laura Novik; Ana M. Ortega-Villa; Galina V. Yamshchikov; Ingelise J. Gordon; Abidemi Ola; Anita Arthur; Pamela J. M. Costner; Floreliz Mendoza; Jamie Saunders; Xioalin Wang; William R. Whalen; Joanna Utoh; Jennifer Cunningham; Lorin N. Loftus; Ashley Heimann; Katia Korzeniwsky; Shayne F. Andrew; Evan Lamb; Shruthi Shyam Sunder; Amelia Thompson; Mary McDonald; Kathryn E. Foulds; Nancy J. Sullivan; Jessica Bahorich; Emily E. Coates; Rebecca J. Loomis; Barney S. Graham; Karin Bok; Sunny Himansu; Brett Leav; Walla Dempsey; John H. Beigel; Mario Roederer; Lesia K. Dropulic; ; Maxwell Norris; Preeti Apte; Renunda Dyer; LaShawn Requilman; Justine Jones; Larisa Strom; Tatiana Beresnev; Maryam Keshtkar-Jahromi; Caitlyn Dulan; Li Ou; I-Ting Teng; Tongqing Zhou