Latest GSK vaccines target “biggest killers”
Five new vaccines due to be launched over the next five years will target some of the diseases that are the biggest killers today, according to GlaxoSmithKline. Updating delegates at a conference last week, the
company highlighted recent trial data for its pipeline vaccines Cervarix,
Rotarix, Streptorix, an improved influenza vaccine and its new vaccine
combinations against meningitis.
Cervarix, a vaccine designed to protect against cervical cancer, targets
the virus subtypes responsible for more than 70 per cent of these cancers.
The company said that clinical trials have shown that Cervarix offers
100 per cent protection against persistent HPV-16 and HPV-18 infection
for at least 27 months. GSK will be filing for approval for the vaccine
in Europe in 2006.
Rotarix, developed to prevent rotavirus gastroenteritis is the only rotavirus
vaccine with a two-dose regimen that allows for early protection, GSK
informed delegates. It said trials have shown it to be safe and effective
in children under two years and that the vaccine will lead to a substantial
reduction in hospital admissions and death. GSK has submitted regulatory
filings for Rotarix in Europe.
The company also outlined data from a trial of about 5,000 children showing
that Streptorix, a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, protected about one-third
of them from developing acute otitis media. Streptorix has been designed
to provide protection against the 10 most important pneumococcal serotypes,
including three serotypes not contained in Prevenar, the currently available
vaccine. GSK added that regulatory filings are planned for 2007.
Regarding the flu vaccine, GSK said that it intends to double production
of Fluvarix by 2008. It is also developing an improved flu vaccine for
the elderly designed to restore T-cell responses to levels seen in younger
people and to enhance protection against mutating flu strains. The company
highlighted preliminary data from a study of 360 elderly people showing
that the product is as well tolerated as Fluvarix and increases flu-specific
T-cell responses by around 60 per cent. Large phase III trails are expected
to start in 2006.
The company also summarised progress with its combinations of new meningitis
conjugate vaccines, one of which, Menitorix (Hib-MenC) is awaiting UK
approval. |
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