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Novavax soars on positive phase III trial of its RSV vaccine

Last updated: 09:38 07 Jun 2017 EDT, First published: 04:38 07 Jun 2017 EDT

baby with oxygen mask in hospital bed
In the US, nearly all children will have been infected with RSV by the time they are four

Shares in Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ:NVAX) surged 14% higher in pre-market trading after the Rockville, Maryland-based group published the full results from the mid-stage clinical trial of its RSV F vaccine.

The results – published in the Vaccine medical journal – showed that the vaccine helped to protect babies and their mothers from lower respiratory tract infections.

Those who were given the vaccine had a 52% reduction in recent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection – which commonly causes lower respiratory tract infection – compared to those given the placebo.

“While it was not the primary endpoint in the trial, the Western Blot data suggest the potential to protect both the pregnant mothers and their infants from RSV disease,” said President, Research and Development Gregory Glenn.

The phase III trial enrolled 720 women of child-bearing age (between 18 and 35 years old)

Early results from the study had been released back in 2014 and demonstrated a positive safety profile for the vaccine.

Shares jumped 14% on the back of the news to US$1.16.

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