Pfizer's (PFE.US) vaccine designed to prevent a potentially severe respiratory infection will be offered to an additional approximately 3 million people in England through the state-funded National Health Service (NHS). All adults aged 80 and above in England will now be eligible to receive the vaccine, called Abrysvo, which protects against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). This virus can lead to serious conditions such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
The decision, announced on Thursday, represents a significant expansion of an existing program that previously covered individuals aged 75 to 79. The UK Health Security Agency stated that new clinical evidence indicates receiving the vaccine can reduce the risk of hospitalization from this infection by approximately 75%.
UK authorities initially selected Pfizer's vaccine to protect both the elderly population and infants, a move seen as bypassing domestic pharmaceutical giants GSK and AstraZeneca. GSK offers a competing vaccine for older adults in the UK, while AstraZeneca provides a drug aimed at protecting infants from RSV.
Within the NHS framework, Pfizer's Abrysvo is currently the only RSV vaccine approved for use in both the "older adult program" and the "infant protection program." It is important to note that the infant protection strategy does not involve direct vaccination of infants. Instead, pregnant women from 28 weeks gestation are vaccinated, providing protection to newborns through maternal antibodies. Other related products are not utilized by the NHS to cover both these programs in the same manner; AstraZeneca's product in the UK is for infant protection, while GSK's Arexvy is a competitor in the older adult segment.
RSV vaccines are critically important for the elderly population, forming a key component of respiratory disease prevention for older adults. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that annually in the United States, approximately 110,000 to 180,000 adults aged 50 and older are hospitalized due to RSV, with the risk of severe illness increasing significantly with age. Consequently, the CDC currently recommends RSV vaccination for all adults aged 75 and older, as well as for high-risk individuals aged 50 to 74.
The UK's decision to extend the eligibility for Pfizer's Abrysvo from ages 75-79 to 80 and above was largely based on the new evidence showing a roughly 75% reduction in RSV-related hospitalization risk following vaccination.
Currently, three vaccines are approved in the US market for preventing RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease in older adults: Pfizer's Abrysvo, GSK's Arexvy, and Moderna's mRESVIA. Abrysvo is undoubtedly a leading product. Clinical data reviewed by the FDA showed that Abrysvo reduced the risk of RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease in older adults by 66.7% (defined by ≥2 symptoms) and by 85.7% (defined by ≥3 symptoms). Pfizer later announced that protection against "≥3 symptom RSV lower respiratory tract disease" remained high at 77.8% after two seasons.
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