What is the story about?
What's Happening?
Dynavax Technologies has announced promising results from a phase 1/2 clinical trial of its Z-1018 shingles vaccine, which is being compared to GSK's Shingrix. The trial showed that Z-1018 has comparable efficacy to Shingrix but offers better tolerability, with fewer post-injection reactions. The vaccine achieved a 100% antibody response in the best performing dose, compared to 96.9% with Shingrix. Dynavax plans to proceed with further trials involving older adults, who are most at risk for shingles, aiming to disrupt the multi-billion-dollar shingles vaccine market.
Why It's Important?
The development of a new shingles vaccine by Dynavax could significantly impact the vaccine market, currently dominated by GSK's Shingrix. With approximately 1 million cases of shingles annually in the U.S., a vaccine offering improved tolerability and efficacy could provide a valuable alternative for patients and healthcare providers. This advancement may also stimulate competition and innovation in the vaccine industry, potentially leading to more options for consumers and better protection against shingles.
What's Next?
Dynavax plans to continue its clinical trials with a focus on older adults, who are at higher risk for shingles. Positive results could lead to registration trials and eventual market entry, challenging the current market leader, Shingrix. Other companies, including Pfizer and BioNTech, are also developing shingles vaccines, indicating a competitive landscape. The success of Dynavax's vaccine could influence pricing, availability, and adoption rates in the shingles vaccine market.
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