Vaxcyte’s VAX-31 Vaccine Shows Promise in Phase III Trial

Vaxcyte, a California-based biotechnology company, has announced positive results from a Phase III clinical trial of its experimental pneumococcal vaccine, VAX-31. The trial met its primary endpoints, positioning Vaxcyte to compete with industry giants Pfizer and Merck in the vaccine market.

The study involved more than 3,500 adults aged 50 and older. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either VAX-31, Pfizer’s Prevnar vaccine, or Merck’s Capvaxive. Researchers measured the strength of participants’ antibody responses to various bacterial strains, though specific study metrics and full results were not disclosed.

VAX-31 is designed to protect against 31 serotypes of bacteria that can cause pneumococcal disease, including pneumonia. This is a broader coverage compared to Pfizer’s Prevnar, which targets 20 strains, and Merck’s Capvaxive, which covers 21 strains.