[NA Eun-kyung, Edaily Reporter] Eubiologics said Thursday it is jointly conducting a project with the National Institute of Health under the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) to develop a nanoparticle adjuvant based vaccine candidate to prevent Nipah virus infection.

The project is part of a government program to build rapid development technologies for priority infectious diseases that could trigger future pandemics.

The research aims to establish a national level response framework for high risk infectious diseases with pandemic potential. The project runs from April to December 2025.

Under the initiative, the National Institute of Health will oversee vaccine development priorities, antigen design, funding support, and step by step project management and evaluation. Vaccine developer Eubiologics will lead the basic research and development.

Nipah virus is a zoonotic pathogen with bats as its natural host and can spread between humans. The virus has a reported fatality rate of 40 percent to 75 percent.

There are currently no commercially available vaccines or treatments. As a result, international organizations including the World Health Organization and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations classify Nipah virus as a high priority pathogen requiring urgent countermeasures.

The vaccine development strategy is based on a consensus antigen sequence designed in advance by the National Institute of Health. The approach aims to provide broad protection against multiple circulating strains and takes into account the potential emergence of future variants.

Eubiologics has completed the identification of candidate antigen materials and is currently selecting vaccine formulations and conducting preclinical efficacy evaluations. The company aims to confirm protective efficacy in animal models within the year and plans to proceed to Good Laboratory Practice toxicology studies afterward.

The company said it plans to expand development step by step toward clinical trials through follow up government support programs.

Eubiologics is applying its proprietary adjuvant platform technology in the project. The platform has previously demonstrated clinical safety and immunogenicity in vaccine programs targeting COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus and herpes zoster. The company expects the technology to be applicable to a wide range of infectious disease antigens.

An Eubiologics official said the company will continue to focus on research and development to help strengthen the national infectious disease response system based on its validated platform technology.