Shingles Vaccine Candidate Progresses in Phase 2 Study

Washington-based Curevo Vaccine Inc. today announced the completion of enrollment in a Phase 2b trial of their CRV-101 subunit vaccine to prevent the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (shingles) in older adults.

Topline data from this Phase, 2b trial, are expected in January 2023.

CRV-101 was specifically designed with the goal of producing an optimal immune response while using a smaller amount of adjuvant to create a vaccine with good tolerability and a similar efficacy profile.

"Shingles is a widespread viral disease that can lead to unrelenting, lifelong pain and debilitation," said Dr. Jason Haffizula, MD, with Precision Clinical Research and an investigator on the Phase 2b trial, in a press release issued on September 15, 2022.

"There is a clear need for a new vaccine with lower side effects and equivalent or better efficacy."

The Phase 2b trial enrolled 678 participants across eleven U.S. sites, randomized to a high- or low-dose CRV-101 arm or Shingrix®. Participants received two doses, two months apart, as per current practice for a shingles vaccine.

Eligibility criteria included adults over 50 with no prior varicella zoster virus vaccination or history of shingles. They were broadly representative of the potential non-immunosuppressed patient population for a shingles vaccine.

Shingles is a serious medical condition involving a very painful skin rash where 10-18% of people also develop serious, long-lasting nerve pain significantly impacting the quality of life.

About 1 out of every three people in the USA will develop shingles. Even children can get shingles, says the U.S. CDC.

Other shingles vaccine news is posted at PrecisionVaccinations.