Glaxo hails ‘truly exceptional’ results in respiratory virus vaccine trial

GSK took a big win for its drug pipeline after announcing ‘truly exceptional’ results in a major trial for its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine.

RSV is common and usually causes mild cold symptoms.

But the disease can become serious and is a leading cause of pneumonia in toddlers and the elderly, with around 8,000 deaths in the UK each year.

A Phase III clinical trial of the pharmaceutical group’s injection for RSV showed that the vaccine caused a 94.1 percent reduction in the severe version of the disease, while the overall effectiveness was 82.6 percent. The results were a boost for CEO Emma Walmsley.

“These are truly exceptional results, as RSV is still one of the leading infectious diseases without a vaccine today, despite more than 60 years of research,” said Tony Wood, GSK’s Chief Scientific Officer.

He added that the vaccine had the potential to reduce the “significant global burden” of RSV in older adults, many of whom are at high risk of developing serious illness due to other conditions.

The results gave GSK an edge over US rival Pfizer, which in August reported that its proprietary RSV vaccine was 66.7 percent effective overall. The Pfizer shot was also 85.7 percent effective at preventing serious illness.

GSK plans to submit the survey data to regulatory authorities by the end of this year. If approved, the vaccine could become the first for RSV anywhere in the world.

But GSK shares fell 2.1 percent, or 27.8p, to 1331p, despite the positive news.

Susie Jana, an analyst at brokerage Shore Capital, said the stock’s sluggish performance was due in part to continued investor concerns about GSK’s potential liability in a US lawsuit over the heartburn drug Zantac, which will be off shelves in 2019. was removed for fear it contained a carcinogen. chemical.

The incident has led to more than 2,000 cases being filed in the US, raising fears that the pharmaceutical giants that sold it could pay hefty damages.

Aside from the battle in Zantac, GSK also faces a battle for pole position in the race to get its RSV vaccine approved by regulators, against Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Danish group Bavarian Nordic.