To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Investigational Shingles Vaccine Reduced the Incidence, Severity AND Duration of Shingles Pain URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/24DD2A.htm Doctor's Guide June 2, 2005
TORONTO, ON -- June 2, 2005 -- An investigational shingles vaccine developed by Merck & Co., Inc. reduced the total burden of pain and discomfort associated with shingles by 61 per cent compared to placebo, according to a new study published in today's issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. The Phase III Shingles Prevention Study was conducted by Merck in collaboration with the US Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases over five years in more than 38,500 men and women age 60 and older. Shingles is a common, frequently painful disease that can occur without warning in anyone who has had chickenpox - nearly all adults in Canada are at risk (25 million in 2005). "The study results are considerable in that they also showed the investigational shingles vaccine reduced by 67 per cent the incidence of persistent nerve pain which is the most frequent complication of shingles known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN)," said Dr. Pat Morley-Forster, Medical Director, St. Joseph's Health Care Interdisciplinary Pain Clinic, London, Ontario, and Director, University of Western Ontario Interdisciplinary Pain Program. "PHN pain can last for weeks, months or even years, even the ouch of a sheet or a piece of clothing against the affected area can be very painful for someone suffering from PHN." "I had heard of shingles but knew nothing about the disease until I developed a few spots on my forehead thirteen years ago," said Joyce Garroch, who was diagnosed with shingles in 1992. "At the time, I didn't attach much importance to them, but over the next few days, I was in crippling pain, similar to a hot iron against bare skin. Even today, over a decade later, I still experience horrible pain and require heavy pain medication, which offers some relief, but also comes with other dreadful side effects." Reductions seen in burden of illness and incidence of both PHN and shingles The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to determine whether vaccination with a single dose of the investigational shingles vaccine would decrease the incidence and/or severity of shingles and PHN in men and women aged 60 and older with no previous history of shingles. The primary endpoint of the study was the burden of illness caused by shingles over the first six months after shingles rash onset, a measure affected by the incidence, severity and duration of shingles-associated pain and discomfort. Findings of the study showed that the investigational shingles vaccine significantly reduced the: - Incidence, severity and duration of pain and discomfort associated with shingles by 61.1 per cent; - Incidence of PHN by two-thirds (66.5 per cent); - Overall incidence of shingles by 51.3 per cent. Safety evaluations conducted during the first 42 days following vaccination showed that the number and types of serious adverse events were similar to placebo. Reactions at the injection site were generally mild. An independent data and safety monitoring board reviewed the safety data and interim results from the study. SOURCE: Merck Frosst --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.