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A research group led by Professor Misako Yoneda of the Teikyo University Institute Advanced Comprehensive Research Organization has begun Phase 1 trials of a Nipah virus vaccine originating in Japan.

On Monday, June 15, 2026, a research group led by Misako Yoneda, a specially appointed Professor at Teikyo University's Advanced Comprehensive Research Organization, Chieko Kai, a specially appointed Professor at the same institute, and Tomoko Fujiyuki, Associate Professor at the same institute, commenced a Phase 1 clinical trial in Belgium to verify the safety and immune-inducing properties of a vaccine against Nipah virus infection in humans.

Nipah virus first caused an outbreak in Malaysia in 1997, and since then, outbreaks have occurred almost every year, mainly in South Asia, causing fatal encephalitis. The mortality rate can reach up to 90%, and human-to-human transmission has been confirmed, making it a global public health threat. Furthermore, the natural host, fruit bats, are widely distributed around the world, raising concerns about the risk of infection spreading. However, currently there is no treatment, prevention method, or vaccine for Nipah virus infection.
The research group, led by Professor Yoneda, is promoting international collaborative research toward the practical application of a Nipah virus vaccine using the measles virus as a vector ^*. Having completed the manufacturing of a vaccine formulation for clinical trials and evaluating its efficacy and safety, and having obtained approval from the Belgian regulatory authorities, they have now commenced Phase 1 clinical trials in Belgium, and administered the vaccine to the first subject on Monday, June 15, 2026.

This clinical trial is expected to be a significant step towards the practical application of a genetically modified vaccine originating in Japan against deadly infectious diseases for which there are currently no effective countermeasures.

• * Viral vector vaccine. This type of vaccine uses a virus as a vector (carrier) to carry the antigen gene of the pathogen to be prevented, delivering it into cells and causing it to be expressed.

The press release (Japanese version) is available here.
The press release (English version) is available here.
Click here for information about the Teikyo University Advanced Comprehensive Research Organization

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