Takeda begins world’s first norovirus vaccine field trial
pharmafile | June 22, 2016 | News story | Research and Development | Takeda, Vaccine, norovirus
Takeda Pharmaceuticals (TSE: 4502) has announced that the first patient has received a dosage of their norovirus vaccine candidate, TAK-214, in the world’s first norovirus vaccine field trial.
Norovirus is recognised as the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis across the age spectrum. It is estimated that the infection causes nearly 700 million cases of illness, with more than 200,000 deaths per year attributable to norovirus.
The Phase IIb will evaluate the efficacy of intramuscular administration of the vaccine candidate against moderate or severe acute gastroenteritis due to norovirus. TAK-214 uses virus-like particle (VLP) antigens, which are proteins that precisely mimic the outer surface of norovirus. In this way, it acts in similar way to other vaccines, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil.
In earlier studies, the vaccine was shown to be generally well-tolerated and was associated with a reduction in disease symptoms and severity in a human challenge study.
Robert Goodwin, global norovirus program head for Takeda, says: “Together with our collaborators, Takeda has dedicated a substantial scientific effort to understand the best ways to prevent norovirus illness through vaccination. This trial moves us one step closer to putting an important tool for prevention in the hands of individuals, families and public health systems around the globe.”
Sean Murray
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