* Losmapimod fails to show efficacy in first part of study
* Shingrix 90 pct effective in over-70s in latest trial (Adds detail on both products)
By Ben Hirschler
LONDON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - An experimental heart drug fromGlaxoSmithKline failed to work as hoped in the firstpart of a large clinical trial, the company said on Tuesday,dealing a blow to its pipeline of new medicines.
Losmapimod was being assessed as a treatment to reduce therisk of further cardiovascular problems after heart attacks, butit failed to show the hoped-for benefits and GSK said the resultdid not support investment in a larger second part of the study.
Analysts had viewed the drug, a so-called p38 kinaseinhibitor, as a relatively high-risk project. GSK said it wouldassess the findings over the next few months and evaluate alloptions for future development.
The setback was offset by better news of the company'sexperimental shingles vaccine Shingrix, which succeeded in asecond pivotal study, confirming its status as one of the morepromising products in GSK's pipeline.
The vaccine demonstrated 90 percent efficacy in preventingthe disease in people over 70 years old and GSK said it plannedto submit it for regulatory approval in the second half of 2016.
Consensus forecasts currently point to Shingrix annual salesof $595 million by 2020, according to Thomson Reuters Cortellis,while Goldman Sachs believes it has the potential to achievepeak sales of 1 billion pounds ($1.5 billion).
In contrast to Merck's established Zostavax,currently the only shingles vaccine on the market, GSK's productshows no diminution in efficacy with age. Zostavax is lesseffective among people who are 70 years or older, which is anage group often at risk from shingles.
GSK's vaccine contains a component from U.S. biotech firmAgenus, which is entitled to royalties on future sales.
The British drugmaker gave the updates on losmapimod andShingrix in separate announcements, one day before it is due toreport third-quarter financial results and a week before it willgive a detailed pipeline update on Nov. 3.
It is the first time in a decade that the company has hostedsuch a research and development day for investors and CEO Andrew Witty is expected to use the opportunity to try to showthat GSK remains a powerhouse for developing new medicines. ($1 = 0.6521 pounds) (Editing by David Goodman)