GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) announced today that its early-stage herpes simplex virus (HSV) vaccine candidate, GSK3943104, has failed to meet the primary efficacy objective in a phase II clinical trial. As a result, the company will not be moving forward with phase III development for this particular vaccine.
 
The decision comes after a thorough analysis of data from the TH HSV REC-003 trial, a combined phase I/II proof-of-concept study designed to assess the potential clinical efficacy of the vaccine. While the vaccine candidate did not achieve its primary goal, GSK emphasized that no safety concerns were identified.
 
Genital herpes remains a significant public health issue with limited treatment options. The failure of GSK3943104 is a setback in the ongoing search for effective vaccines against the disease. However, the company has indicated that it will continue to evaluate the data from this and other studies to inform future research and development efforts in its HSV program.