Ribavirin Effective In Treating Nipah

PUNE, 5 JUNE 2018: Scientists at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) have confirmed the efficacy of Ribavirin in reducing the viral load in people infected with Nipah virus, which has claimed at least 16 lives in Kerala. The drug is primarily used for treating viral infection of the liver or hepatitis C.

In the absence of other treatments, doctors have been using the drug to treat patients infected with Nipah. However, Ribavirin is not a proven treatment for Nipah. There has been only single open label trial evidence from Malaysia and it states that Ribavirin works against the virus. The NIV study has provided a firmer basis for using the drug to treat Nipah infection. It should be given within 2-3 days of symptoms of the infection. “Ribavirin is broadly known to reduce viremia in patients with Nipah infection. This assumption is based mainly on the experiences of doctors in Malaysia involved in treating such patients. Our scientists carried out a study to ascertain the binding of the drug to the virus. So far, this is the only in-silico study carried out on the efficacy of the drug in Nipah infection in India,” senior scientist and NIV-Pune director Devendra Mourya told TOI.

NIV scientist Sarah Cherian said, “There’s no specific treatment or vaccine available against Nipah infections. Keeping in mind the medical emergency in Kerala, the potent known antiviral drug is Ribavirin. We carried out an in-silico study (using computer software models) to evaluate its efficacy. Our findings suggest that this anti-viral drug can be used, along with supportive treatment.” The Times Of India