Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: With Chikungunya continuing to leave thousands of Indians with prolonged and debilitating joint pain, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has moved to fast-track a potential antiviral treatment, inviting Indian companies to help develop and manufacture an experimental RNA-based therapy.The initiative comes amid a sustained disease burden. World Health Organisation surveillance data show India recorded over 30,000 suspected Chikungunya cases and nearly 1,800 laboratory-confirmed cases between January and March 2025, with Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu among the worst-affected states.Against this backdrop, scientists at ICMR’s National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, have developed an experimental RNA-interference–based therapy that directly targets the Chikungunya virus. In pre-clinical studies, the treatment completely suppressed viral replication in laboratory cell lines and mouse models by silencing two essential viral genes — E2 and nsP1. The findings have prompted ICMR to offer the technology for transfer to industry.Explaining its significance, Dr Ekta Gupta, Professor of Clinical Virology at ILBS, New Delhi, said, “RNA interference blocks viral protein formation by targeting messenger RNA. In Chikungunya, NIV’s RNAi approach targeting E2 and nsP1 has shown complete viral suppression in vivo with a single dose. While laboratory results are encouraging, clinical trials are needed. This is important because there is currently no vaccine or antiviral for a disease that causes significant morbidity in parts of the country.”Highlighting the clinical potential and challenges, Dr Neha Rastogi, Senior Consultant (Infectious Diseases) at Fortis Gurugram, said, “By targeting key viral genes such as E2 and nsP1, RNA-interference therapy can block viral entry and replication at an early stage and reduce the risk of resistance. The main challenge is safe delivery of RNA into target cells, with lipid nanoparticles showing promise, and combination therapy may further improve effectiveness.”India has faced major Chikungunya outbreaks in the past. A study published in Emerging Infectious Diseases estimates that the 2006 epidemic affected about 1.39 million people nationwide. More recent research in Scientific Reports (2025) shows nearly 480 outbreaks across around 30 states and Union Territories since 2015, highlighting the virus’s continued spread.Despite recurring outbreaks, treatment remains largely limited to pain relief, even though joint pain can persist for months or years and affect livelihoods.Under the new initiative, ICMR will license the NIV-developed technology to one or more Indian manufacturers on a non-exclusive basis to accelerate development and access, while companies handle production and regulatory approvals.Public-health experts say that if the therapy proves safe and effective in human trials, it could reduce long-term disability and healthcare costs linked to Chikungunya, while strengthening India’s preparedness for future outbreaks.
