The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has approved the world's first Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine for older adults.
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However, this vaccine still needs approval from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, before its launch in Public.
The vaccine was approved for people aged 60 and older. RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. It can be serious, especially for infants and older adults.
Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer marks a turning point in our effort to reduce the significant burden of RSV. Arexvy is the first approved RSV vaccine for older adults, expanding GSK’s industry-leading vaccine portfolio, which protects millions of people from infectious diseases each year. Our focus now is to ensure eligible older adults in the US can access the vaccine as quickly as possible and to progress regulatory review in other countries.”
About RSV in adults
RSV is a common contagious virus affecting the lungs and breathing passages. Older adults are at high risk for severe disease due in part to age-related decline in immunity, and older adults with underlying conditions are at even greater risk for severe disease. RSV can exacerbate conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and chronic heart failure and can lead to severe outcomes, such as pneumonia, hospitalisation, and death. Each year, approximately 177,000 adults 65 years and older are hospitalised in the US due to RSV; an estimated 14,000 cases result in death. For adults 60 and older, data suggest an increased risk for severe RSV infection that can lead to hospitalization. Adults with underlying conditions are more likely to seek medical services and have higher hospitalisation rates than adults without these conditions.
