GlaxoSmithKline reports positive data from shingles vaccine trial

GlaxoSmithKline has announced that its new shingles vaccine HZ/su has met its primary endpoint in a pivotal phase III clinical trial.

Positive results have emerged from the ZOster Efficacy study, which started in August 2010 and was conducted in more than 16,000 adults aged 50 years and over. It remains ongoing in 18 countries.

The findings reveal that HZ/su reduced the risk of shingles by 97.2 percent in adults aged 50 years and older compared to placebo. The vaccine combines gE, a protein found in the virus that causes shingles, with the adjuvant system AS01B to enhance immunological response.

Additional trials are currently underway to evaluate the ability of HZ/su to prevent shingles in people aged 70 and older, as well as in immunocompromised patients.

Alain Brecx, vaccine development leader at GlaxoSmithKline, said: "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."

This comes after the company recently formed a new European consortium to help further advance development of its candidate vaccine against Ebola, with EU funding support.