In a large clinical study of adults ages 50 to 59, Zostavax (Zoster Vaccine Live), Merck's vaccine for the prevention of shingles (herpes zoster), reduced the incidence of shingles by nearly 70 per cent (69.8) compared to placebo. These new data were presented at 48th Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Based on these results, earlier this year Merck filed a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the use of Zostavax to prevent shingles in people 50 to 59 years of age.

"In this study, Zostavax significantly reduced the incidence of shingles in adults in their 50s when compared with placebo," said Myron Levin, one of the study's investigators, and professor, Departments of Paediatrics and Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, The Children's Hospital.

Zostavax is indicated for the prevention of herpes zoster (shingles) in people 60 years of age and older and is the only shingles vaccine licensed for use in the US Zostavax is not indicated for the treatment of shingles or postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).