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Varivax/ProVarivax
Varivax is a live attenuated varicella-zoster virus vaccine that stimulates immune response to prevent chickenpox infection.
Varivax is a live attenuated varicella-zoster virus vaccine that stimulates immune response to prevent chickenpox infection. Used for Prevention of varicella (chickenpox) in children and adults, Prevention of herpes zoster (shingles) in older adults.
At a glance
| Generic name | Varivax/ProVarivax |
|---|---|
| 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 strain of varicella-zoster virus (Oka strain) that replicates in host cells but does not cause disease in immunocompetent individuals. This triggers both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, generating antibodies and T-cell memory that protect against subsequent natural varicella infection. ProVarivax is a refrigerator-stable formulation variant of the same vaccine technology.
Approved indications
- Prevention of varicella (chickenpox) in children and adults
- Prevention of herpes zoster (shingles) in older adults
Common side effects
- Injection site reactions (erythema, swelling, pain)
- Fever
- Rash (varicella-like)
- Myalgia
Key clinical trials
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:
- Varivax/ProVarivax CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Varivax/ProVarivax updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- GlaxoSmithKline portfolio CI