VV116 acts as a "prodrug" that suppresses viral replication. It essentially "jams" the machinery (RNA) the virus needs to replicate, effectively stopping the infection's lifecycle. Testing confirmed the drug's effectiveness against both the Malaysian (NiV-M) and the more virulent Bangladeshi (NiV-B) genotypes.

The virus has a fatality rate ranging from 40 per cent to 75 per cent, according to health experts. There is currently no approved vaccine or cure, making early containment and monitoring critical.

Nipah Virus Outbreak: Chinese researchers claim COVID-19 drug can fight the deadly infection - All you need to know

Chinese researchers have demonstrated that the oral nucleoside drug VV116, which is already approved for treating Covid-19 in China and Uzbekistan, exhibits significant activity against the Nipah virus,