GSK's Shingrix Vaccine Study Aims to Reduce Dementia Risk by 2027

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is currently conducting a significant study in the United Kingdom to determine if its widely-used shingles vaccine, Shingrix, can reduce the risk of dementia in a large cohort of elderly individuals. This research, which began in 2023 and is set to run for four years, involves 1.4 million people aged 65 to 66. Some participants have received the Shingrix vaccine, while others have not. Previous studies have suggested a potential link between the shingles vaccine and a reduced risk of dementia, but these studies have relied on existing data and could not establish a causal relationship.

The key to determining whether the shingles vaccine can lower the risk of dementia lies in conducting a randomized trial that divides participants into vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups. However, GSK's chief scientist, Tony Wood, noted that conducting such a trial on 1.4 million people would be prohibitively expensive. Fortunately, a unique situation in the UK's shingles immunization program has created a natural randomized trial. When the program expanded in 2023, 65-year-olds became eligible for the Shingrix vaccine, but 66-year-olds were told they would have to wait until they were 70. This created two large groups of patients who were naturally assigned to different vaccination statuses.

GSK's research will evaluate these data until the 66-year-olds turn 70 and become eligible for the Shingles vaccine. The study will also consider factors such as age, gender, and comorbidities. This research, conducted in collaboration with the UK Dementia Research Institute and Health Data Research UK, aims to provide clearer insights into whether GSK's shingles vaccine can reduce the risk of dementia. If the results are positive, GSK may submit the data to regulatory authorities to discuss the potential expansion of the vaccine's indications.

Tony Wood emphasized the collaborative nature of this research, stating, "This is a partnership that allows us to answer a question that would otherwise be almost unimaginable in normal circumstances." Although this study differs from typical late-stage drug trials, it closely resembles them in many ways. Additionally, this research is seen as an opportunity for the UK to leverage its vast national health service database, which contains data from millions of patients. If successful, this study could serve as a model for population health data research.