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Candidate varicella vaccine
A live attenuated varicella-zoster virus vaccine that stimulates immune responses to prevent chickenpox and herpes zoster infection.
A live attenuated varicella-zoster virus vaccine that stimulates immune responses to prevent chickenpox and herpes zoster infection. Used for Prevention of varicella (chickenpox), Prevention of herpes zoster (shingles).
At a glance
| Generic name | Candidate varicella vaccine |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | GlaxoSmithKline |
| Drug class | Live attenuated vaccine |
| Target | Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) |
| Modality | Biologic |
| Therapeutic area | Immunology / Infectious Disease |
| Phase | Phase 3 |
Mechanism of action
The vaccine contains a weakened form of the varicella-zoster virus that replicates in the body at low levels, triggering both cellular and humoral immune responses without causing clinical disease. This primes the immune system to recognize and rapidly respond to natural varicella-zoster virus exposure, preventing or significantly reducing the severity of chickenpox and later-life herpes zoster reactivation.
Approved indications
- Prevention of varicella (chickenpox)
- Prevention of herpes zoster (shingles)
Common side effects
- Injection site reactions (erythema, swelling, pain)
- Fever
- Rash
- Myalgia
Key clinical trials
- A Study to Learn About a Modified RNA Vaccine Against Shingles in Healthy Adults (PHASE1, PHASE2)
- A Study to Test GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) Candidate Vaccine-GSK1437173A for Prevention of Shingles in Children With Kidney Transplant (PHASE1, PHASE2)
- A Study to Evaluate the Safety of Recombinant Herpes Zoster Vaccine for Healthy Individuals (PHASE1, PHASE2)
- A Study on the Immune Response and Safety of an Investigational Chickenpox Vaccine and a Marketed Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine When Administered as Intramuscular Injection to Healthy Children 12 to 15 Months of Age (PHASE3)
- A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Reactogenicity, and Immunogenicity of mRNA-1468 in Healthy Adults ≥50 Years of Age (PHASE1, PHASE2)
- Safety and Immunogenicity of the rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP Ebola Virus Vaccine Candidate in Children Living in Lambaréné, Gabon (PHASE1, PHASE2)
- Vaccines Immunogenicity in Renal, Hepatic, Cardiac or Pulmonary Transplanted Children (NA)
- Phase I Clinical Trial of a Candidate Herpes Zoster Vaccine (PHASE1)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Candidate varicella vaccine CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Candidate varicella vaccine updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- GlaxoSmithKline portfolio CI