What is Arexvy?

May 4, 2023

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the world’s first respiratory syncytial virus vaccine called Arexvy. The vaccine, manufactured by British pharmaceutical company GSK, has been approved for individuals aged 60 years and above in the United States.

What is respiratory syncytial virus?

Respiratory syncytial virus is a respiratory virus that is extremely infectious and gives rise to indications like cough, sneezing, fever, wheezing, runny nose, and a reduced appetite. This virus is air-borne as well as fomite-borne, transmitted through coughing and sneezing, through direct contact with an infected individual, or by touching objects with the virus on it. In case of infection, treatments include over-the-counter pain relievers, staying hydrated, and in severe cases, hospitalisation and oxygen support.

In the US, respiratory syncytial virus is the most common cause of bronchiolitis, inflammation of the small airways in the lungs, and pneumonia, infection of the lungs, in children aged less than a year. In older adults, respiratory syncytial virus is a common cause of lower respiratory tract disease that can affect the lungs and cause life-threatening pneumonia and bronchiolitis.

Arexvy Vaccine

The objective of the vaccine is to hinder respiratory syncytial virus-induced lower respiratory tract illness in elderly individuals. Arexvy is an adjuvanted respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, which means that it has an adjuvant, an ingredient that helps create a stronger immune response to vaccination.

Efficacy of Arexvy

A clinical trial was conducted in the US and internationally in individuals aged 60 years and above. The trial revealed that the usage of Arexvy lowered the possibility of developing lower respiratory tract disease related to respiratory syncytial virus by 82.6 percent and reduced the chance of developing severe lower respiratory tract disease by 94.1 percent. This indicates that the vaccine’s overall efficacy is 82.6 percent. This means that the overall efficacy of Arexvy is 82.6 per cent. In older adults with at least one underlying medical condition, the efficacy of Arexvy was 94.6 per cent.

Safety and Effectiveness of Arexvy

GSK has reported that Arexvy has an acceptable safety profile and was generally well tolerated. The most commonly observed adverse events after receiving the vaccine were pain at the injection site, muscle pain (myalgia), joint pain (arthralgia), fatigue, and headache. Ten participants who received the vaccine reported experiencing atrial fibrillation within 30 days of vaccination. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and rapid heart rhythm that can cause blood clots in the heart, but in these cases, the symptoms were mostly mild to moderate.

Launch and Availability

Arexvy is scheduled to take place in the US prior to the 2023/2024 respiratory syncytial virus season. This vaccine has not yet been approved for use in any other country outside of the US.

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