The EU approves a vaccine for people aged 50-59 at high risk of VRS

The European Commission has approved Arexvy, a recombinant adjuvant vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), for active immunization to prevent lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in adults at higher risk, specifically those aged 50 to 59. RSV can worsen existing health conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, heart failure, and diabetes, which may lead to severe outcomes such as pneumonia, hospitalization, or death. This broadens the use of the GSK RSV vaccine, previously authorized in Europe for adults over 60 in June 2023, to now include prevention of RSV-LRTD. The application garnered support from a study that evaluated the immune response and safety of the vaccine in adults aged 50 to 59, particularly those at a higher risk of RSV-GSK due to specific health conditions. Additionally, the outcomes of ongoing research examining the immunogenicity and safety of the vaccine in adults aged 18-49 at an elevated risk of infection, as well as in immunocompromised adults 18 years and older, are expected to be released by December 2024.