Words by Isabel O’Brien
This summer, GSK revised its annual vaccine sales forecast after new guidance on adult respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, new findings on the co-administration of this and its existing shingles vaccine may offer GSK a fresh way to promote both products.
A Phase III study involving 530 adults aged 50 and over demonstrated that when participants received both the RSV and shingles vaccines during the same healthcare visit, the immune responses were comparable to those observed when administered separately. This was compared to patients who received the vaccines at different appointments, getting the shingles vaccine first, followed by RSV a month later.
Both groups experienced similar side effects, such as pain at the injection site, fatigue and muscle aches. GSK also reported that the duration and severity of these events were consistent across both groups.
Commenting on the results in a press release, Dr Len Friedland, Vice President of Scientific Affairs and Public Health, GSK, highlighted the importance of adult immunisation, saying: “Adult immunization offers immense individual and societal benefits and yet, vaccination rates for adults are often inadequate.”
If GSK’s co-administration study leads to an approval, Friedland hopes this will remove barriers to adult immunisation “by potentially reducing the number of visits to healthcare offices and pharmacies”, he said. Both RSV and shingles pose serious health risks for older adults, particularly those with weakened immune systems or pre-existing health conditions.
Initially, RSV vaccines were recommended for adults aged 60 and over, but this year the CDC updated its guidance, advising a single lifetime dose for those aged 75 and older. The CDC also recommended vaccination for people aged 60-74 with underlying health conditions that increase their risk of severe illness.
This change has reduced the forecasted US RSV vaccine market for 2024 from 2.4bn (USD) to 2.2bn (USD), according to healthcare analytics firm Airfinity. By the end of the decade, the market value could even fall below the 2bn (USD) mark.
