Dynavax Technologies Corp Announces Promising Results for Shingles Vaccine Candidate
In a significant development for the biotechnology sector, Dynavax Technologies Corporation, a health care biotechnology company based in Berkeley, United States, has reported encouraging results for its shingles vaccine candidate, Z-1018. The company, which specializes in developing products based on immunostimulatory sequences, aims to treat and prevent allergies, infectious, and chronic inflammatory diseases by modulating immune system responses.
On August 21, 2025, Dynavax announced positive topline results from Part 1 of its Phase 1/2 clinical trial. The trial compared Z-1018 head-to-head with Shingrix, the current market leader developed by GSK. The results, which were eagerly anticipated by investors and healthcare professionals alike, indicate that Z-1018 is well-tolerated across all doses and formulations evaluated. Notably, the vaccine demonstrated a favorable tolerability profile, with lower solicited local and systemic post-injection reactions compared to Shingrix.
The trial’s findings are particularly promising, as Z-1018 exhibited robust immune responses in all dose arms, achieving a 100% humoral vaccine response rate at the dose selected for further development. This rate is comparable to the immunogenicity observed with Shingrix, suggesting that Z-1018 could potentially offer a best-in-class profile for shingles prevention.
Following these positive results, Dynavax has selected the optimal dose of Z-1018 for advancement to Part 2 of the Phase 1/2 trial. This next phase is expected to commence in the second half of 2025 and will focus on adults aged 70 years and older, a demographic particularly vulnerable to shingles.
The announcement has been well-received in the financial markets, with Dynavax’s stock trading at $10.42 as of August 19, 2025. Despite a challenging year with a 52-week low of $9.22 and a high of $14.63, the company’s market capitalization stands at $1.25 billion. However, the company’s price-to-earnings ratio remains negative at -20.357, reflecting ongoing investments in research and development.
Dynavax’s progress with Z-1018 underscores its commitment to innovation in vaccine development. As the company continues to advance its pipeline, stakeholders remain optimistic about its potential to make a significant impact in the prevention of shingles and other diseases.
For more information on Dynavax Technologies Corporation and its ongoing projects, interested parties can visit their website at www.dynavax.com . The company is listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange, having made its Initial Public Offering on February 19, 2004.