Nipah virus: Ebola antivirus, Remdesivir, effective against infection in monkeys

Remdesivir, an experimental antiviral, has completely protected four African green monkeys against a lethal dose of Nipah virus, according to a new study Translational medicine science scientists and colleagues from the National Institutes of Health.

Identified for the first time in Malaysia in 1999, Nipah is an emerging pathogen that is found mainly in Bangladesh and India. The virus is transmitted to humans by bats; a person-to-person transmission also occurs. Nipah virus can cause neurological and respiratory diseases; the mortality rate is about 70%. A delayed relapse, resulting in inflammation of the brain or encephalitis, may occur. An outbreak in May 2018 in India resulted in 23 cases and 21 deaths.

Nipah virus: An introduction

Gilead Sciences, Inc. is currently developing Remdesivir and, in collaboration with scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has conducted initial laboratory studies evaluating the drug Nipah. Researchers from the CDC and the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) collaborated on the concept of the monkey study. NIAID then conducted monkey studies with laboratory serology and CDC pathology support. Animals infected with a lethal dose of Nipah virus received a first dose of intravenous remesivir 24 hours after infection, then a daily intravenous dose for 12 consecutive days in total.

Kansas State University

The NIAID team observed the animals for 92 days after infection, taking clinical samples 14 times during this period. The long period of observation has left scientists plenty of time to monitor the central nervous system to detect any disease that may be slow to develop when it is caused by the Nipah virus. Two treated animals developed mild respiratory signs that resolved within three weeks; the other two treated animals showed no signs of disease. All four remained apparently healthy for the rest of the study. Four untreated animals also received a lethal dose of Nipah virus. They began to show signs of illness within four days of infection and quickly developed a life-threatening illness within eight days.

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The scientists then plan to evaluate the delay in administering the drug to determine how long after infection the animals can be successfully treated. Remdesivir is the second experimental treatment, after the monoclonal antibody m102.4, which prevents severe Nipah virus disease in a monkey model when it is administered after infection of animals.

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