EU approves first vaccine against common respiratory virus
The European Commission has approved the world's first vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in adults aged 60 and over. \nGSK, the maker of the vaccine called Arexvy, stated that this authorization allows eligible adults to be vaccinated against RSV for the first time. \n \nRSV can cause severe illness in vulnerable populations and has led to approximately 20,000 in-hospital deaths each year in Europe among adults aged 60 and over. \n \nThe market for RSV vaccines is projected to exceed $10 billion in the coming decade.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- The European Commission has followed the United States in approving the world's first vaccine for the Respiratory Syncytial Virus, to be used by adults aged 60 and over, its maker GlaxoSmithKline said Wednesday. "This authorisation for Arexvy means eligible adults can be vaccinated against RSV disease for the first time," GSK's chief scientific oficer Tony Wood said in a statement. The United States approved the drug last month, while the vaccine is the culmination of a decades long hunt to protect vulnerable people from the common illness. RSV normally causes mild, cold-like symptoms, but can be serious for infants and the elderly, as well as those with weak immune systems and underlying conditions. In severe cases it can cause pneumonia andbronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small airways deep inside the lungs. Analysts predict the market could be worth over US$10 billion in the next decade, with similar shots from other makers including Pfizer and Moderna expected to follow soon. GSK said RSV was "a common, contagious respiratory virus that leads to... approximately 20,000 in-hospital deaths each year in adults aged 60 years and over in Europe". -- AFP
