On the 25th (local time), as Nipah virus infection occurred in West Bengal, India, health quarantine measures were implemented for passengers at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. 2026. 01. 25. ⓒ Reuters = News 1
(Seoul) – A recent outbreak of Nipah virus, primarily in India, is raising global concerns, stirring memories of the societal disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic just a few years ago. The heightened sense of crisis is understandable, given the virus’s potential for widespread impact.
While a standardized treatment isn’t yet available, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency is actively working to develop domestic mRNA vaccine technology to bolster preparedness.
Reports from the industry on February 2nd indicate a series of deaths, including those of doctors and nurses, linked to the spread of Nipah virus infection in West Bengal, eastern India.
The World Health Organization (WHO) designates Nipah virus as a high-risk zoonotic disease and a ‘priority pathogen,’ citing a mortality rate ranging from 70 to 75 percent, depending on the report.
Currently, infection is known to occur through contact with infected animals or consumption of contaminated date palm sap. Person-to-person transmission is also possible through close contact with a patient’s bodily fluids.
This situation is driving demand for a universal, rapidly designable next-generation neutralizing antibody platform. With no commercialized standard treatment for Nipah virus available, a platform capable of responding to mutant strains—rather than a single virus-specific drug—is crucial.
Government Support for Vaccine and Treatment Development
Having experienced significant financial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government is proactively preparing for future health threats. National strategic funds, including the ‘K-Bio Vaccine Fund,’ are providing intensive support to promising vaccine and treatment companies in the preclinical and phase 1 and 2 clinical stages.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency designated Nipah virus infection as a class 1 infectious disease and quarantine infectious disease as of September 8 of last year. While the risk of importation into the country is considered low, this preemptive measure reflects the virus’s high fatality rate.
Nine priority infectious disease vaccines, including Nipah virus, have been selected for focused development. Efforts are underway to secure key technologies for rapid vaccine development, such as vaccine prototypes and mRNA technology for pandemic-potential diseases, through public-private collaboration and government-wide support.
On the morning of the 31st, medical staff are cleaning up the area around the COVID-19 screening clinic at the Yongsan-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. 2023.8.31/News1 ⓒ News1 Reporter Koo Yun-seong
Domestic Companies Advance Nipah Virus Vaccine Research
Chaperone and Genewon Life Science (011000) are among the Korean companies actively developing vaccines related to Nipah virus.
Chaperone’s ‘double nanomab’ is approximately one-tenth the size of conventional IgG antibodies, offering enhanced stability in double antibody formulations and strong binding power for deep tissue penetration.
This allows for the design of dual antibody formulations targeting two antigen sites simultaneously within a single molecule, connected in series.
Chaperone has a strategic research collaboration with the Swiss non-profit ‘Consortium for Malaria Venture’ (Medicines for Malaria Venture) and is currently developing a long-acting anti-malaria drug based on nanobodies, leveraging its proprietary nanomab platform technology.
This approach is also applicable to Nipah virus, optimizing a strategy that simultaneously targets different antigens to block the virus’s initial attachment and entry into cells.
Even if a mutation occurs at one site, neutralizing efficacy can be maintained through other targets, significantly reducing the risk of immune evasion compared to single-target antibodies.
GeneOne Life Science has introduced Nipah virus prevention vaccine candidate technology in collaboration with the Wistar Research Institute in the United States, and is conducting joint research on DNA/mRNA-based nucleic acid vaccines and new small molecule compounds for Nipah treatment.
An industry official emphasized that, as demonstrated by the Nipah virus outbreak, a swift response is critical for protecting public health and national economic stability. Many countries, having learned from the coronavirus pandemic, now prioritize treatment development.
