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Clinical Daily Summary

Clinical Daily Summary: What Happened on October 16, 2026

Osivax misses Phase 2b flu-vaccine target and turns to combinations

Merz completed enrollment in two migraine trials, while researchers reported new clinical and real-world treatment data.

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  • Read from 5 articles, 3 publications
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Today in brief

OVX836 fell short of its 50% efficacy target in a Phase 2b trial, with an estimated efficacy of 24% that was not statistically significant.1 Osivax plans to advance combination candidates with partners but has not set a date for another efficacy trial.1

Osivax shifts OVX836 toward combination vaccines after missing trial target

In the randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2b Asuniva trial, OVX836 had an estimated efficacy of 24%, below the predefined 50% target. The result was not statistically significant.1 The study enrolled 2,850 healthy adults ages 18 to 59 in Belgium, France, Finland and Germany.1

Secondary efficacy estimates were 28% against CDC-defined influenza-like illness, 27% against influenza A/H3 and 25% against A/H1N1pdm09. None showed statistically significant protection.1 The vaccine had a favorable safety profile and prompted antibody and T-cell responses to influenza nucleoprotein.1 Osivax said the findings provide a repeatable efficacy signal against both major influenza A subtypes for a vaccine that targets nucleoprotein alone.1

Osivax is emphasizing OVX836 as a possible addition to seasonal flu vaccines, rather than mainly as a standalone alternative.1 In August, the company agreed with GC Biopharma to develop a single-injection combination of OVX836 and GC FLU. Osivax plans to advance combination candidates through two partnerships.1

Also worth knowing

  • Merz Therapeutics completed enrollment of about 1,800 participants in two Phase 3 trials of Xeomin for chronic and episodic migraine prevention, six months ahead of schedule. The main study period is expected to conclude next year.2

  • MacroGenics dosed the first participant in a Phase 1 trial of MGC030, an antibody-drug conjugate being tested in advanced solid tumors. The initial dose-escalation stage may enroll up to 54 people.3

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    In an observational UK program, 8,127 women receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists through digital care lost an average of 15.5% of their starting weight at six months. The study had no comparison group and followed participants for six months.4

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    In a single-arm Phase 1 study of 81 people with recurrent malignant glioma, median overall survival was 7.9 months among 72 participants with IDH-wild-type recurrent glioblastoma. Four patients had dose-limiting toxicities at one dose level.5

Also published