China’s Wuhan Lab Claims To Have Developed Drug Against Nipah Virus

Last Updated:January 29, 2026, 21:32 IST

In India, two confirmed Nipah cases were recently detected at a private hospital in Barasat, in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district.

The Nipah virus outbreak in India has recently resurfaced, with two confirmed cases in West Bengal.

A new study by Chinese scientists has raised fresh questions about whether a drug originally developed to treat Covid-19 could help combat the deadly Nipah virus, which has triggered health alerts in parts of India and across Asia.

The research, led by scientists from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, claimed that an oral antiviral drug called VV116 shows strong potential against the Nipah virus in laboratory and animal studies.

The findings were published in the international peer-reviewed journal Emerging Microbes & Infections.

According to a report by the South China Morning Post, VV116, already approved for Covid-19 treatment in China and Uzbekistan, demonstrated significant antiviral activity against Nipah virus strains under experimental conditions.

Results In Early Trials

In preclinical testing, researchers found that oral doses of VV116 were able to block Nipah virus replication and substantially improve survival rates in animal models.

Experiments conducted on golden hamsters showed survival rates rising to 66.7 per cent, a marked improvement compared to untreated groups.

The drug also reduced viral load in major organs such as the lungs, spleen and brain—areas commonly affected during severe Nipah infections.

Importantly, the study showed that VV116 and its active metabolites were effective against both the Malaysia strain (NiV-M) and the Bangladesh strain (NiV-B) of the virus. The Bangladesh strain is believed to be responsible for recent Nipah outbreaks in India.

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that can spread from animals to humans, often through contact with infected bats or pigs, and can also transmit between humans.

Severe infections may lead to acute respiratory distress and fatal encephalitis. Despite years of research, no antiviral drug has yet been approved for clinical use against Nipah.

“This is the first study to demonstrate the therapeutic potential of VV116 against Nipah virus," the Wuhan Institute of Virology said, adding that the drug could be used both as a preventive option for high-risk groups such as healthcare and laboratory workers and as a treatment during outbreaks.

Chinese biopharmaceutical firm Vigonvita Life Science Co, which developed VV116, said the preclinical data point to its potential as a Nipah treatment.

The company stated that it would closely monitor outbreak trends and consider initiating clinical trials for treatment and post-exposure prevention if required, according to a Chinese news portal.

Researchers, however, cautioned that further studies are needed to fully understand how VV116 inhibits the Nipah virus. They believe the drug may act through a mechanism similar to its antiviral action against coronaviruses. Its established safety profile in humans, they noted, could help speed up further testing.

Nipah Virus In India

In India, two confirmed Nipah cases were recently detected at a private hospital in Barasat, in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district. The Union Health Ministry said 196 contacts linked to the cases have been identified, traced and tested.

“All traced contacts have been found asymptomatic and have tested negative for Nipah Virus Disease. No additional cases have been detected so far," the ministry said, urging the public to rely only on official information.

The developments have prompted heightened vigilance across Asia.

China has flagged concerns ahead of the Lunar New Year travel rush, while Thailand has begun screening passengers at airports receiving flights from West Bengal.

Nepal has intensified checks at Kathmandu airport and along land borders with India, and authorities in Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong have also stepped up monitoring.

News health-and-fitness China’s Wuhan Lab Claims To Have Developed Drug Against Nipah Virus