Genocea (NASDAQ: GNCA) provided an early look at its ongoing, placebo-controlled, mid-stage trial of GEN-003, and said that so far the experimental vaccine has hit its mark. One of two tested doses of the vaccine led to a statistically significant reduction of what’s known as “viral shedding”—when the patient is releasing the virus and is contagious—compared to a placebo. Patients got three injections of GEN-003 or a sham—one every 21 days—and were then observed 28 days later. The dose that succeeded—the one Genocea is taking forward into further testing—led to a 40 percent reduction in viral shedding, compared to a 6 percent increase for placebo patients. The dose that failed led to a 27 percent reduction, and didn’t hit statistical significance.
Genocea will now follow these patients and report results after six and 12 months of GEN-003 treatment. It’ll be hoping to see that the viral shedding results that it’s seen translate to fewer outbreaks of blisters and sores—a more important indicator of disease control.
(Emphasis my own.)
So their best performing dose led to a 40 percent reduction in viral shedding. Will be interesting to see what Professor Frazer can achieve.
AHZ Price at posting:
32.5¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
