Chinese researchers have reported that VV116, an oral nucleoside antiviral developed for COVID-19, suppresses the highly lethal Nipah virus in laboratory and rodent experiments, offering a potential rapid-response therapeutic for a pathogen that alarms global health authorities.
A team led by scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and collaborators published their results in Emerging Microbes & Infections, showing in vitro inhibition of both major Nipah strains and a marked reduction in viral load and mortality in an infected rodent model after oral dosing. At a tested dose of 400 mg/kg, treated animals survived at a rate of 66.7% and displayed significantly lower virus levels in lung, spleen and brain tissue compared with untreated controls.
VV116 is a prodrug targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), an enzyme that many RNA viruses use for replication and whose active site is relatively conserved. That mechanism underpins the logic for “repurposing” broad-spectrum nucleoside analogues: drugs developed against one RNA virus can sometimes blunt others that rely on the same polymerase, as seen previously with remdesivir and ribavirin in experimental Nipah models.
The discovery matters because Nipah, a bat-borne paramyxovirus, is among the World Health Organization’s highest-priority epidemic threats. Since its discovery in 1998 the virus has caused episodic outbreaks in South and Southeast Asia with case fatality ratios ranging widely — often cited between roughly 32% and 70% — and there are currently no licensed vaccines or targeted therapies for human use.
Yet bench and animal efficacy do not equate to clinical readiness. Regulatory approval for a new indication requires controlled human trials demonstrating safety and efficacy against Nipah infections or for post-exposure use. Investigators and outside experts stress that while broad-spectrum RdRp inhibitors are a promising reserve tool, formal clinical evidence for Nipah remains absent and will be required before any routine use.
Commercial and corporate reactions to the paper have been uneven. VV116 was discovered and advanced through partnerships that include academic institutions and Suzhou-based Wanshan Wanshui Biopharma (Wangshan Wangshui) and later development and global commercialization arrangements with Junshi Biotech. Wanshan Wanshui responded that it is monitoring outbreaks and will “timely” consider clinical trials for treatment or post-exposure prophylaxis; Junshi, by contrast, told reporters it is not conducting related trials and that expanding indications would require further clinical data.
Markets reacted to the promise: Wanshan Wanshui shares spiked intraday and closed at a record high on the news, while Junshi’s Hong Kong-listed shares also rose. That volatility reflects how quickly public-health breakthroughs — even preliminary ones — can reshape investor expectations, especially for a product whose commercial demand has waned since the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
From an industry perspective, the finding revives strategic questions about repurposing and stockpiling broad-spectrum antivirals. VV116 already holds conditional approval in China (2023) and emergency-use authorization abroad; its existing manufacturing and regulatory dossiers could shorten the time to deployment if human trials confirm efficacy. Nonetheless, the balance between scientific caution, regulatory rigour and the urgency of responding to a fast-moving outbreak will shape whether VV116 becomes a practical countermeasure against Nipah.