Dynavax, GlaxoSmithKline Battling In Same Industry: Who Will Win?

Slingshot Insights recently conducted an interview with Dr. Ashwin Balagopal, assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine about the impact that Dynavax Technologies Corporation DVAX’s HBV-23 will have on the HBV vaccine market, particularly when it comes to GlaxoSmithKline plc (ADR) GSK’s Engerix-B.

When asked about the Phase III Dynavax data that was released in January, Dr. Balagopal said that it looks very promising.

“What I’ve seen of the data that were released is that the Dynavax vaccine appears to be as effective if not more effective, at least in the generation of protective antibody fighters for hepatitis B prevention, after only 2 doses,” Dr. Balagopal explained. “Having it be two doses rather than three doses is certainly preferable because you’re going to miss a lot of people for whom you’re insisting on three doses.”

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When asked about the potential market share that a Dynavax vaccine could achieve, Dr. Balagopal said that the size of the market likely wouldn’t change much, but Dynavax could potentially take over the vast majority of the current market.

“The market would be the same, it would just be better and having a better vaccine means that you can give fewer doses. That might certainly mean that the Dynavax vaccine is going to be widespread because of it, but it would be equally widespread.”

Disclosure: the author holds no position in the stocks mentioned.