CDC backs broader RSV vaccine use, boosting GSK and Pfizer

USA – The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may have just given GSK and Pfizer a much-needed boost in the race to protect people from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

This week, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to expand its recommendation for RSV vaccination to include adults aged 50 to 59 who are at increased risk of severe RSV illness.

The move, which still needs final sign-off from the CDC director and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), could reignite sales of GSK’s Arexvy and Pfizer’s Abrysvo vaccines.

Both vaccines were already approved by the FDA for use in the 50–59 age group. But last year’s narrow ACIP recommendation only covered adults aged 75 and above, or 60–74-year-olds with high-risk conditions.

That limited guidance was cited as a key reason vaccine sales dropped sharply in 2024. GSK’s Arexvy saw the biggest hit.

Despite generating £1.2 billion (US$ 1.5 billion) in 2023, sales plummeted to £590 million (US$ 737.5 million) this year — a 50% drop.

Meanwhile, Pfizer’s Abrysvo fared slightly better, with US$ 755 million in 2024 sales, down from US$ 890 million the year before.

The original recommendation delay stemmed from a postponed ACIP meeting that was expected in February, shortly after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in as HHS Secretary. The advisory group finally met this Wednesday to vote on expanding the RSV shot guidance.

While this new CDC recommendation could help GSK and Pfizer recover from last year’s revenue slump, some hurdles remain.

The guidance must still be formally approved by the CDC director, a position awaiting confirmation of Trump’s nominee, Susan Monarez, in the US Senate.

Despite the wait, the outlook for both vaccines is improving. With a broader age group eligible, more adults may soon be able to get protection from RSV — a virus that can be especially dangerous for older adults and those with weakened immune systems.