The Zhitong Finance App learned that GSK (GSK.US) recently announced its recombinant herpes zoster vaccine Shingrix (RZV), which obtained positive data in the long-term follow-up phase 3 clinical trial ZOSTER-049. The trial tracked participants for about 11 years after receiving Shingrix. The final data showed that RZV was effective in protecting adults over 50 against shingles for more than ten years.
Shingles is caused by reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which is also the causative agent of chickenpox. Most adults already have this virus in their bodies and may reactivate as they age. Globally, shingles will affect up to 1/3 of people. Factors that increase the risk of developing shingles include aging, immunodeficiency or immunosuppression, and other chronic diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and asthma).
Shingrix is an inactive, recombinant protein subunit vaccine used to prevent shingles in adults 50 years and older. It combines antigen, glycoprotein E, and the adjuvant system AS01B to help overcome age-related decline in the immune response, which is critical to protecting adults aged 50 and over from developing shingles.