Several companies have reported success from experimental RSV vaccines in recent months.
Modernas version is 83.7% effective at protecting against RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease with two or more symptoms.
Moderna shared some of the findings via apress release.
Artur Plawgo / Getty Images
It plans to submit for regulatory approval in the first half of 2023.
Drugmakers are finalizing their vaccines as the United States is coming off a particularly challenging RSV season.
November saw the highest rate of RSV-associated hospitalizations in five yearsnearly five times as high as the year before.
The Moderna vaccine is now adding to an already crowded field of RSV vaccine candidates.
Three companies have reported phase 3 trial data on experimental RSV vaccines and several others are in the pipeline.
Experts saythe vaccines may help prevent such drastic waves of hospitalization among vulnerable groups.
For most healthy adults, RSV may cause an illness that is no worse than the common cold.
But for young children and older adults, the respiratory infection can lead to serious complications.
Moderna said the vaccine was well tolerated with no safety concerns identified.
Glatt said the data is exciting.
The proof is in the pudding.
you oughta have the real, hard data to analyze, Glatt said.
Modernas vaccine uses mRNA technologythe same platform the company uses for its COVID-19 vaccine and bivalent booster.
The RSV vaccine will be especially important for older people with underlying conditions, Glatt said.
Those with lung and heart problems are at particularly high risk of complications from RSV infection.
Multiple RSV Vaccines Are in the Pipeline
The first experimental RSV vaccine was developed in the 1960s.
In 2013, researchers discovered a technique to develop safer vaccines.
Numerous companies now have RSV vaccines in the research pipeline.
Pfizer reportedthat its RSV vaccine is 85.7% effective at preventing severe disease in adults older than 60.
GSKs vaccine has areported efficacyof 94.1% in the same age group.
Both vaccines could receive FDA approval as early as May.
Last year, drugmakers AstraZeneca and Sanofi reported success in a phase 3 trial of a new monoclonal antibody.
Certainly having this available for next year would be critical.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.RSV-NET interactive dashboard.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.RSV research and surveillance.
2013;340(6136):1113-1117. doi:10.1126/science.1234914
