The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations will provide $25 million to Profectus BioSciences Inc. and Emergent BioSolutions Inc. to develop a vaccine against the Nipah virus.
The Nipah virus is a bat-borne virus that can spread to both humans and animals and has no approved vaccine or therapeutic.
The virus has a high mortality rate of about 75% and has killed 11 people in India's southern state of Kerala, with 13 confirmed cases of infection, according to The Economic Times.
Under the agreement, Profectus will get the development funds from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, or CEPI, for advancing its Nipah virus vaccine over a five-year period, and Emergent will provide technical and manufacturing support.
Emergent has, through a separate agreement with Profectus, an exclusive option to license and assume control of development activities for the Nipah virus vaccine from Profectus.
PATH, a global health organization, will also work with the consortium on clinical development under a separate agreement with CEPI.
CEPI is an alliance to finance and coordinate the development of new vaccines for infectious diseases, with founding partners including the Indian government, Wellcome Trust, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
