REC610 – Novel Adjuvanted Recombinant Shingles Vaccine Candidate under Phase I Clinical Stage

REC610 received a drug clinical trial approval notice (notice number: 2023LP02151) issued by the NMPA in October 2023, which is approved for use as a preventive 3.3 biological product in its phase I and phase III clinical trials being carried out in China and completed enrollment of all subjects for phase I clinical study in China in March 2024. This study adopted a randomized, double-blind, parallel controlled design in 180 healthy adult subjects aged 40 and above in Pu’er,Yunnan Province to evaluate the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of REC610.

REC610 achieved positive results in the interim analysis of phase I clinical trial in the Philippines. The Interim Analysis (IA) results showed that REC610 demonstrated overall favorable safety and tolerability profile in healthy participants aged 40 and above after two doses of the vaccination. REC610 induced strong gE-specific humoral and cellular immune responses, which were evident after the first vaccination and reached the peak at 30 days after the second vaccination. Thehumoral and cellular immune responses were comparable between REC610 and Shingrix® group, and the immune response level in REC610 group was numerically higher than that in Shingrix®group.

• Safety: REC610 had good safety profile with the two-dose vaccination regimen. No SAE, AESI or TEAE leading to early discontinuation was reported. The incidences of vaccination related TEAEs, solicited local and systemic TEAEs, unsolicited TEAEs were comparable between REC610 group and Shingrix® group. Majority of vaccination related TEAE were grade 1 or grade 2, and all recovered in 1-3 days post vaccination. The common (≥5%) solicited TEAEs in REC610 group included injection site pain, injection site swelling, pyrexia, headache, and myalgia.
• Immunogenicity: REC610 induced strong gE-specific humoral and cellular immune responses, which were evident after the first vaccination and reached the peak at 30 days after the second vaccination. The humoral and cellular immune responses were comparable between REC610 and Shingrix® group, and the immune response level in REC610 group was numerically higher than that in Shingrix® group. REC610 induced favorable humoral and cellular immune responses in both elderly and adult groups. Both REC610 and Shingrix® groups induced high levels of gE-specific antibodies at 60 days after the first dose vaccination, and 30 days after the second dose vaccination. The GMT, GMI and SCR of gEspecific antibodies were comparable in REC610 group and Shingrix® group, especially, the GMT and GMI of gE-specific antibodies were numerically higher in REC610 group than those in Shingrix® group. Both REC610 and Shingrix® groups induced strong cellular immune response at 60 days after the first dose vaccination, and 30 days after the second vaccination. Tested by the internationally recognized ICS method, the frequencies and CMI response rates of CD4 + T cells secreting at least one or two of gE-specific cytokines were comparable in REC610 group and Shingrix® group, and the cellular immune response level was numerically higher in REC610 group than that in Shingrix® group.

Shingles is a common viral infectious disease. According to statistics, about 6 million new cases of shingles occur each year in China, and the incidence of shingles has gradually become younger in recent years. According to global research data on shingles vaccines that have been marketed, as compared to attenuated live vaccines, novel adjuvanted recombinant shingles vaccines can provide stronger cellular immune and protective efficacy. REC610 is equipped with a novel adjuvant BFA01 independently developed by the Company, which can promote the production of high levels of VZV glycoprotein E (gE)-specific CD4 + T cells and antibody. REC610 is intended to prevent shingles in adults aged 40 and above. According to statistics, China’s population aged 40 and above is approximately 700 million. Only GSK Shingrix®, the novel adjuvant recombinant vaccine, is on the market in China, and there is a strong demand for import substitution.