Curevo secures US$110M to advance promising shingles vaccine

USA—Curevo, a biotechnology company in the USA, has secured US$110 million in funding and hired a former GSK executive to advance its promising vaccine candidate, amezosvatein.

 This development is a significant step in its efforts to rival GSK’s stronghold in the shingles vaccine market.

Curevo’s strategy aims to challenge GSK’s Shingrix, currently the only FDA-approved vaccine available for preventing shingles in the United States.

The recent funding comes from a Series B round led by the European investment firm Medicxi, with additional support from OrbiMed, Sanofi Ventures, and HBM Healthcare Investments.

According to Curevo’s CEO, George Simeon, these funds will be instrumental in expanding the Phase II program for amezosvatein, which will involve an additional 640 healthy volunteers.

This phase is crucial for determining the optimal dosage before the company progresses to Phase III trials, set to kick off in mid-2025.

Shingles, which occurs due to the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, can cause a painful rash and is especially common in adults over the age of 50.

Since its approval in 2017, GSK’s Shingrix has been the market leader, reportedly nearing blockbuster status in 2024 with sales reaching £848 million (approximately $1.06 billion).

However, amezosvatein is emerging as a serious competitor. In earlier Phase II trials, it showed non-inferiority to Shingrix, achieving a 100% vaccine response rate versus Shingrix’s 97.9%.

Additionally, amezosvatein exhibited lower rates of adverse events, suggesting it may be easier for patients to tolerate.

A critical element of Curevo’s strategy is recruiting experienced professionals.

Moncef Slaoui, who previously led GSK’s vaccine efforts, has joined Curevo’s board of directors.

Slaoui was instrumental in developing several vaccines, including Shingrix, and most recently served as the chief scientific adviser to Operation Warp Speed during the COVID-19 pandemic. His expertise will be crucial in fine-tuning Curevo’s approach to shingles vaccination.

Moreover, Tal Zaks, the former Chief Medical Officer of Moderna, has joined the board as well, bringing a wealth of experience in vaccine development.

Amezosvatein, similar to Shingrix, targets the glycoprotein E antigen but utilizes an optimized TLR4 agonist adjuvant, which could improve tolerability.

 This enhancement might position amezosvatein as the preferred choice for shingles vaccination in the future.

Despite these promising strides, Curevo faces a tough market environment.

The U.S. government’s increased scrutiny of vaccines, led by Health and Human Services head Robert F. Kennedy Jr., may affect vaccine adoption and sales.

GSK has already highlighted potential declines in vaccine sales due to these policy uncertainties.

As Curevo advances with amezosvatein, it seeks to overcome existing barriers to shingles vaccination, such as enhancing manufacturing processes and improving patient tolerability.

If successful, amezosvatein could not only take on Shingrix’s market dominance but also offer a safer and more accessible option for patients globally.

With its impressive Phase II results and strategic recruitment of industry veterans, Curevo is well-positioned to make a substantial impact in the shingles vaccine arena.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and beyond. Also, follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.