Universidad Austral de Chile

First Nanobody Treatment Shows Promise Against Deadly Nipah and Hendra Viruses

- University of Queensland researchers have identified DS90, the first nanobody capable of neutralizing both Nipah and Hendra viruses, for which no approved vaccines or cures currently exist. - The nanobody, derived from alpaca immune cells, can access deep viral pockets that traditional antibodies cannot reach and successfully blocks viral entry into cells. - Combining DS90 with existing m102.4 antibody therapy prevents Nipah virus from mutating and evolving, offering a powerful strategy to prevent deadly variants from emerging. - The discovery represents a crucial step toward developing clinical treatments for these fatal respiratory and neurological diseases that cause regular outbreaks in Asia and Australia.