GlaxoSmithKline developing new Shingles vaccine said to be 90% effective (OT)

Since a number of us here are in the age range where contracting Shingles can be a concern, mentioning this development seemed useful.

Up until now Zostavax has been the vaccine of choice for Shingles, but something reportedly better, Shingrix, may soon be on the horizon.

From the first article linked below:

"GSK today announced that the second pivotal phase III study of its candidate vaccine Shingrix in adults aged 70 years and over (known as ZOE-70) successfully met its primary objective, demonstrating 90% (95% confidence interval: 84–94) efficacy against shingles compared to placebo."

"… the candidate vaccine effectively prevents subsequent chronic neuropathic pain, also known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) which is the most common severe complication of shingles."

"GSK intends to submit a regulatory application for Shingrix for the prevention of shingles in people 50 years of age and over in North America, in Japan and EU during the second half of 2016."

www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/2015/gsk-s-candidate-shingles-vaccine-demonstrates-90-efficacy-against-shingles-in-people-70-years-of-age-and-over/

More on the approval process:

www.thepharmaletter.com/article/gsk-on-track-to-file-for-shingrix-approval-this-year

I have an elderly aunt (early 90's) who unfortunately contracted Shingles a few years ago and her experience with it was simply horrible. For those of us who are especially age-vulnerable, vaccination against Shingles should definitely be a high priority.

Glad they're getting something better. Shingles is a horrible thing to go through.

Andrew

I had shingles when I was 22 and it was enough to knock me out for three days and I mean totally out. Pain so bad I could not sleep for 36 hours which led to hallucinations and complete loss of lucidity. Girlfriend drove me to doctor when I was in extremis and I fell asleep in the waiting chair. Finally. Some pain meds was all that was available and I gobbled them. Episode finally passed and I survived but I NEVER wish to repeat that experience. And that was age 22. 22!

What if it happened now. Oh, my ever lasting God what hell it would be.
True repeat episode, not a continuation of the same one as happens some times, is rare but I took the Zostavax borne of my experience.

Post Edited (tarhoosier) : 10/27/2016 8:45:12 AM (GMT-6)

This information is put out by the drug company. Obviously they will tell you how great their vaccine is. I do not trust information given by people with a financial interest. This is a fairly new vaccine and no one knows of the long term side effects. See advertisements on TV of lawyers telling me if I get the vaccine and come down with shingles give them a call because they can get me money. Doesn't say much for the effectiveness of the vaccine. I will take my chances with following a healthy life style and so far it has worked.

eatwell:

Living/eating well and getting vaccinations are not at all mutually exclusive.
I hope that isn't your opinion of vaccinations in general.

I assume when the shingles vaccine comes to market, it will have passed assorted rigorous statistical tests. That's not a guarantee, of course. But, from what I've read, one does NOT want to get a bad case of shingles!

Mel

JGR:

I guess I'm not sure what you are saying. Do you get flu shots? Pneumonia vaccine?

I agree 100% about not taking the word of a pharmacy rep/company with the vested interest.

But when the drug passes FDA muster, for something like shingles I am going to get it.

Anyway, it's not approved yet. It still has to pass a reasonably high bar.

There are folks who are 100% against all vaccinations. They used to claim it causes autism. I think that argument has been debunked. I feel sorry for their children

Mel

Some erroneous information in this thread about the efficacy of Zostavax.
Copied form the CDC site:

In a large clinical trial involving more than 38,000 people 60 years of age or older, zoster vaccine reduced the overall incidence of zoster by 51% and the incidence of post-herpetic neuralgia by 67%. The efficacy of the vaccine in preventing zoster was higher in people 60 through 69 years of age than in people older than 70 years (64% versus 38%). Zoster vaccine efficacy wanes within the first 5 years after vaccination, and protection beyond 5 years is uncertain.