GlaxoSmithKline reports positive flu vaccine trial data

GlaxoSmithKline has announced positive data from a number of phase III studies that underline the potential benefits of its two candidate quadrivalent influenza vaccines (QIVs).

Results from four immunogenicity and safety studies presented at the Influenza Vaccines for the World congress in Valencia showed that both vaccines are highly immunogenic against all four of their targeted influenza strains.

This means that the addition of a fourth disease strain to the three treated by currently approved trivalent vaccines did not have a negative impact on antibody response.

Moreover, data from a fifth study that was carried out exclusively among children aged between three and eight years old showed that the therapies can also help to protect against mild flu cases, as well as moderate-to-severe ones.

Regulatory submissions for one of these vaccines were initiated in the US and EU in February 2012, while the second was put forward for review in the US earlier this month.

This comes after GlaxoSmithKline recently entered into a new alliance with Aeras on the development of a new vaccine for tuberculosis.