Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, a unit of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, has expanded its collaboration with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to accelerate the development of a vaccine for Nipah virus, backed by up to $13.38 million in new funding, the Pune-based firm said on April 1.
At present, there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment exist for the virus, which has a mortality rate of 75 percent.
The biotech firm will advance its self-amplifying mRNA (saRNA) vaccine against Nipah. The project will integrate artificial intelligence through a partnership with the Houston Methodist Research Institute (HMRI) to pinpoint optimal vaccine targets.
“By harnessing the cutting-edge capabilities of our saRNA platform, we are committed to developing a revolutionary next-generation vaccine,” Gennova CEO Sanjay Singh said.
Preclinical and phase 1 trials will be conducted by Gennova in India, which has seen multiple Nipah outbreaks over the past two decades.
Nipah, carried by fruit bats, has caused outbreaks in South and Southeast Asia but its vector spans areas inhabited by over 2 billion people globally.
This expanded funding builds on CEPI’s initial investment of $3.6 million in August 2023, aimed at refining Gennova’s saRNA platform for rapid response to future "Disease X" threats. CEPI has committed over $100 million to its Nipah programmes.
CEPI’s executive director of vaccine R&D, Kent Kester, highlighted the project's dual importance — establishing saRNA's suitability for Nipah and its potential role in rapid responses to future pandemic threats, possibly within 100 days.
Gennova has committed to equitable access principles, ensuring the vaccine will be available affordably where needed.
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