Chinese researchers have identified a potential treatment option for the deadly Nipah virus after discovering that an oral antiviral drug originally developed for COVID-19 shows strong inhibitory effects against the virus in laboratory and animal studies. The findings could mark an important step toward addressing a disease that currently has no approved treatment or vaccine.
The drug, known as VV116, is already approved for COVID-19 treatment in China and Uzbekistan. Scientists found that it demonstrated notable antiviral activity against Nipah virus strains, raising hopes that it could be repurposed quickly during future outbreaks.
Researchers tested VV116 and its active metabolites in cell-based experiments against two major strains of the Nipah virus, the Malaysia strain and the Bangladesh strain. The drug successfully suppressed viral replication in both strains, indicating broad antiviral potential.
The team then evaluated the drug in a lethal-dose infection model using golden hamsters. When administered at a dose of 400 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, VV116 increased survival rates to 66.7 percent. The treatment also significantly reduced viral loads in critical organs, including the lungs, spleen, and brain. These results suggest the drug may help limit both the spread of the virus within the body and the severity of the disease.
Nipah virus is one of the most dangerous emerging infectious diseases known today. First identified in Malaysia in 1998, it can infect both animals and humans and is associated with fatality rates ranging from 40 percent to 70 percent. Infections can lead to severe respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis.
There are currently no approved vaccines or targeted treatments for Nipah virus, which makes outbreak control especially challenging. In early 2026, cases and deaths linked to the virus were reported in India’s West Bengal state, prompting authorities to quarantine around 100 close contacts as a precautionary measure. The World Health Organization has classified Nipah virus as a priority pathogen due to its epidemic potential and high mortality rate.
The study was conducted by a joint team from the Wuhan Institute of Virology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, and biotechnology firm Vigonvita Life Science Co. Their research was published in the peer-reviewed journal Emerging Microbes and Infections under the title “The oral nucleoside drug VV116 is a promising candidate for treating Nipah virus infection.”
The researchers emphasized the value of drug repurposing, noting that existing antivirals with established safety profiles can dramatically shorten response times during public health emergencies.
References:
1. Zhang, Yumin, Yanfeng Yao, Shufen Song, Ge Gao, Yun Peng, Hang Liu, Miaoyu Chen, Wei Zheng, Guanghui Tian, Yuanchao Xie, Jingshan Shen, Gengfu Xiao, Tianwen Hu, Chao Shan, and Leike Zhang. 2025. The Oral Nucleoside Drug VV116 Is a Promising Candidate for Treating Nipah Virus Infection. Emerging Microbes & Infections 14, no. 1 (December): 2587983. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41257471/
2. World Health Organization. 2026. Nipah Virus Infection. World Health Organization. Accessed January 27, 2026. https://www.who.int/health-topics/nipah-virus-infection#tab=tab_1
(Rh/ARC)