Pfizer's Abrysvo first maternal vaccine approved for infant RSV

US pharma giant Pfizer’s (NYSE: PFE) Abrysvo has won US approval for use in pregnant women to prevent lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) and severe LRTD caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants from birth through six months of age.

The approval adds to the battle between Pfizer and GSK (LSE: GSK) in this field, with the UK drugmaker having gained US approval of a RSV vaccine with its Arexvy product in May.

Importantly, Pfizer is the only company with an RSV vaccine to help protect older adults, as well as help protect infants through maternal immunization, having initially been granted US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Abrysvo for the prevention of LRTD caused by RSV in patients of at least 60 years in May of this year, shortly after the GSK nod.