LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - An experimental vaccine againstshingles from GlaxoSmithKline met its goal in alate-stage study, in a boost for the company's vaccine unit,which is expanding part of its overall healthcare business.
The vaccine, known as HZ/su, reduced the risk of shingles by97.2 percent in adults aged 50 years and older compared toplacebo in the Phase III clinical trial involving more than16,000 individuals, the drugmaker said on Thursday.
HZ/su combines a protein found on the virus that causesshingles with an adjuvant, or booster, which is intended toenhance the immunological response. The adjuvant includes acomponent from U.S. biotech firm Agenus, which isentitled to royalties on any future sales.
Additional trials to evaluate the ability of HZ/su toprevent shingles are underway in people aged 70 and older and inimmunocompromised patients.
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the samevirus that causes chickenpox. After an attack of chickenpox, thevirus lies dormant in certain nerve tissue but in older peoplein can reappear in the form of shingles.
Merck & Co already sells another shingles vaccine,known as Zostavax, which was approved by the U.S. Food and DrugAdministration in 2006. (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Vincent Baby)