Positive Phase III data on GSK's new shingles vaccine

New data from a Phase III clinical study supports the safety and efficacy of Shingrix ((Zoster vaccine recombinant, adjuvanted) in preventing shingles (herpes zoster) when given to adults 18 years and above shortly after undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (auHSCT).

The ZOE-HSCT study succeeded in its primary objective by demonstrating an efficacy of 68.17% [95%CI: 55.56 - 77.53] against shingles in subjects above 18 years of age after receiving an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant. In subjects aged 50 and above, the efficacy was similar, 67.34% [95% CI: 52.60 - 77.89].

The vaccine reduced overall complications linked to shingles episodes by 77.76% [95% CI: 19.05% - 95.93%]. Vaccine efficacy for the prevention of post-herpetic neuralgia, a form of chronic nerve pain and the most common complication associated with shingles, was 89.27% [95% CI: 22.54–99.76]. No safety issues related to the vaccine were detected during the study.