A Two-Antibody Cocktail Targets Two Of The World’s Deadliest Viruses

Nipah virus and Hendra virus are two highly lethal viruses that belong to the henipavirus family. These viruses have a mortality rate of 40 to 75 percent and are primarily found in South and Southeast Asia (Nipah virus) and Australia (Hendra virus). Despite their deadly nature and pandemic potential, there are currently no approved treatments for patients infected with these viruses.

Both Nipah and Hendra viruses originate from fruit bats, their natural reservoir, and can infect other animals before spreading to humans. Nipah virus outbreaks have been linked to contaminated food, infected livestock, and person-to-person transmission, while Hendra virus typically passes from bats to horses before occasionally infecting humans. Although outbreaks are relatively rare, both viruses can cause severe pneumonia and encephalitis, making them some of the World Health Organization’s highest-priority emerging pathogens.

A new treatment approach has been developed to target both Nipah and Hendra viruses simultaneously. This treatment involves a combination of two antibodies, each targeting a different viral protein. One antibody blocks the receptor binding protein, preventing the virus from attaching to human cells, while the other antibody targets the fusion protein, which stops the virus from entering the cell. By attacking two essential proteins instead of one, the antibody cocktail makes it much harder for the virus to develop resistance.

The advantage of using two antibodies is evident when the viruses are repeatedly exposed to the treatment. Resistance develops rapidly against individual antibodies, but the combination remains effective because escaping both antibodies requires multiple simultaneous mutations. The cocktail of antibodies has been shown to neutralize a broad range of Nipah and Hendra virus strains, including variants that have evolved resistance to single-antibody treatments.

In animal studies, the antibody combination provided complete protection against lethal doses of Nipah virus, even when treatment was delayed until after infection had begun. Laboratory testing also demonstrated the broad activity of the cocktail against multiple strains of Nipah and Hendra viruses.

This innovative approach of combining antibodies that target different conserved regions of the viruses may provide a more durable way to prevent resistance while maintaining protection. Similar strategies are being explored for other rapidly evolving viruses, with the potential to strengthen treatments for newly emerging viruses and those that are challenging existing medicines. This research represents a significant step forward in the fight against deadly viruses like Nipah and Hendra.