KUALA LUMPUR, September 30 – GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Sdn Bhd (GSK) has announced that its Arexvy vaccine has been approved in Malaysia to protect adults aged 60 and above from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common virus that can lead to severe respiratory infections like lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) and pneumonia. The approval follows a successful phase III trial showing 82.6% overall vaccine efficacy against RSV-LRTD, with even higher efficacy (94.6%) in older adults with underlying co-morbidities such as asthma, COPD, and diabetes.
Professor Dr. Ahmad Izuanuddin Ismail, a respiratory physician at Hospital Al Sultan Abdullah UiTM, emphasized the importance of protecting older adults with co-morbidities, noting that RSV poses a high risk of hospitalization and severe outcomes. The introduction of Arexvy in Malaysia is expected to reduce the burden on the healthcare system and improve the quality of life for older adults. GSK plans to work with stakeholders to ensure access to the vaccine for those most at risk.
