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news.GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has reported positive results from a Phase III trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of HZ/su, an investigational vaccine for the prevention of shingles.
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The trial met its primary endpoint showing that HZ/su reduced the risk of shingles by 97.2% in adults aged 50 years and older compared to placebo.
HZ/su is a new vaccine candidate that combines gE, a protein found on the virus that causes shingles, with an adjuvant system, AS01B, which is intended to improve the immunological response.
The company said that these are the first results from the ZOster Efficacy study in adults aged 50 years and over (ZOE-50).
Initiated in August 2010, the trial is ongoing in 18 countries and involves more than 16,000 individuals.
GSK Vaccine Development Leader Alain Brecx said: "It’s great news that the ZOE-50 trial has met its primary endpoint and I would like to thank all those involved in the clinical development programme.
"If approved, this candidate vaccine may offer an important option for the prevention of shingles, a painful disease that negatively impacts peoples’ health and quality of life.
"We look forward to sharing these compelling results and additional data from the ZOE-50 study and the broader HZ/suclinical development programme with the scientific and regulatory communities."
Additional trials to assess the ability of HZ/su to prevent shingles are underway in people aged 70 years and older and in immunocompromised people.