University of Oxford licenses ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccine candidate to Serum Institute of India to support global development and manufacturing against the deadly Nipah virus.
Written By: Samiksha Jadhav, BPharm
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
The University of Oxford has entered into an intellectual property licensing agreement with Serum Institute of India (SII), a Cyrus Poonawalla Group company and the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, to support the development and manufacturing of the ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccine candidate targeting the deadly Nipah virus.
Dr. Umesh Shaligram, Executive Director at Serum Institute of India, said the collaboration reflects the company’s commitment to supporting preparedness against emerging pathogens. He noted that SII plans to leverage its experience with the ChAdOx1 platform and global manufacturing capacity to support continued clinical development of the vaccine candidate.
Under the agreement, SII has received a non-exclusive worldwide licence in the field of Nipah virus vaccines. The partnership will enable the company to contribute its manufacturing expertise to the development, large-scale production, and potential future supply of the vaccine candidate originally developed at Oxford.
The ChAdOx1 NipahB candidate is based on the ChAdOx1 viral vector platform developed at Oxford and is being funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). Preclinical studies have shown encouraging results, including strong immune responses in animal models and protection against infection in two in-vivo models.
A clinical-grade vaccine has already been produced, and a Phase 2a clinical trial has been initiated to evaluate the candidate’s safety and immunogenicity in humans. Depending on the outcomes of these early studies, the programme could advance into further clinical evaluation, including Phase 2b trials in regions where Nipah outbreaks occur.
Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic disease associated with severe illness and mortality rates that can reach up to 70%. Since it was first identified during an outbreak in Malaysia in 1999, cases have been reported mainly across South and Southeast Asia. Despite the serious public health risk, no vaccines are currently approved to prevent the infection.
Because Nipah outbreaks tend to occur sporadically and involve relatively small numbers of cases, conducting large-scale efficacy trials can be challenging. Regulatory pathways may therefore rely on a combination of clinical safety and immunogenicity data, supportive preclinical evidence, and data collected during outbreak responses under established frameworks for vaccines against emerging infectious diseases.
Dr Richard Hatchett, Chief Executive Officer of CEPI, said the partnership highlights the importance of combining scientific innovation with large-scale manufacturing capabilities to address emerging infectious disease threats such as Nipah virus and strengthen global readiness for future outbreaks.
The licensing arrangement was facilitated by Oxford University Innovation (OUI), the university’s innovation and technology transfer partner. Dr Matthew Carpenter, Deputy Head of Licensing and Ventures for Life Sciences at OUI, said the agreement ensures promising research can move from laboratory discovery to development with partners capable of producing vaccines at scale for global health impact.
References
University of Oxford and Serum Institute of India Sign an Intellectual Property License Agreement to Advance ChAdOx1 NipahB Vaccine Candidate, 13 March 2026, https://www.seruminstitute.com/University_of_Oxford_and_Serum_Institute_of_India_Sign_an_Intellectual_Property_License_Agreement_to_Advance_ChAdOx1_NipahB_Vaccine_Candidate.php
About the Writer
Samiksha Vikram Jadhav is a B.Pharm graduate with a strong academic foundation in pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacology, and drug development. She has a keen interest in healthcare advancements, clinical research, medical writing, and emerging therapies. Her work focuses on presenting developments in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors through clear and accurate scientific communication.