GSK stock climbed Wednesday after the drugmaker won the first-ever approval for an RSV vaccine, beating out rivals Pfizer and Moderna.
The shot aims to prevent respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, in adults age 60 and older. GSK is planning to launch the vaccine, dubbed Arexvy, in the U.S. before the 2023-24 season. The season generally takes place in the fall.
"Today marks a turning point in our effort to reduce the significant burden of RSV," GSK's chief scientific officer, Tony Wood, said in a written statement. "Our focus now is to ensure eligible older adults in the U.S. can access the vaccine as quickly as possible and to progress regulatory review in other countries."
On today's stock market, GSK stock advanced 1.4% to close at 36.84. Pfizer stock sank 1.6% to 38.45 as Moderna shares fell 1% to 130.14.
GSK Stock: RSV Vaccine Proves Highly Effective
RSV is a common, contagious virus that causes coldlike symptoms. But it can lead to serious cases and death in people with compromised immune systems, including newborns and older adults. It causes about 177,000 hospitalizations and leads to 14,000 deaths in the U.S. each year among adults age 65 and up.
In GSK's study, the vaccine proved almost 83% effective against RSV leading to lower respiratory tract disease in older adults. The RSV vaccine was also close to 95% protective in adults with at least one underlying health condition. Against severe RSV, it was was 94.1% effective.
The vaccine also proved safe in testing — a bullish point for GSK stock. The most common side effects were injection site pain, fatigue, joint/muscle pain and headache. These were generally mild to moderate and transient, GSK said in a news release.
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