Varicella-Zoster Virus / Shingles
Herpes zoster, or shingles, is a painful, blistering rash caused by the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. VZV can remain dormant in a person’s nervous system for years after infection and can reactivate to cause shingles. While anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk for shingles, adults aged 50 and older and people with a weakened immune system are at increased risk.1
1 in 3 of those infected with VZV worldwide will develop shingles2,3
1.5 million U.S. cases annually with up to 4% are hospitalized for complications4,5
13% of U.S. patients aged 50+ will develop prolonged or chronic pain after shingles6
Our technology has been clinically proven in our available vaccines, which have shown favorable efficacy, safety and tolerability. Our technology has the potential to result in lower rates of certain side effects, such as muscle pain and fever.
As many at-risk adults are declining the shingles vaccine or don’t complete their vaccination series because of the fear of side effects,7 there is an opportunity to bring a more tolerable, less reactogenic and similarly efficacious vaccine to the market. This could encourage more people to start and complete vaccination, especially adults aged 50 and older who are unvaccinated.
Pipeline
Explore our diverse vaccine pipeline, including a candidate for shingles, which is designed to improve safety and tolerability.
Partnership
We drive vaccine innovation, and our partners can help us bring them to those who will benefit.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Shingles (Herpes Zoster) [Internet]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/index.html. Accessed 2025 Aug 20.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Varicella-Zoster Virus [Internet]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/healthcare-personnel-epidemiology-control/varicella.html. Accessed 2025 Aug 20.
- World Health Organization. WHO position paper on herpes zoster vaccines [Internet]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WER10027-28-265-284. Accessed 2025 Aug 20.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinical Overview of Shingles (Herpes Zoster) [Internet]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/hcp/clinical-overview/. Accessed 2025 Aug 20.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Shingles Facts and Stats [Internet]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/data-research/index.html. Accessed 2025 Aug 20.
- Gabutti G. et al. Prevention of herpes zoster and its complications: from the clinic to the real-life experience with the vaccine. J Med Microbiol. 2016 Dec;65(12):1363-1369. doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.000386.
- Wagner A. et al. Impact of shingles vaccine tolerability on initiation and completion of the two-dose series in adults 50 years and older. Vaccine, Volume 62, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127465.