Biotechnology company Moderna recently announced that their phase three clinical trial of an RSV vaccine was found to be 83.7% effective at preventing lower respiratory tract disease in people ages 60 and over. The trial involved 37,000 people across 22 countries and no safety concerns have been identified. Moderna plans to file an application for FDA approval in the first half of this year.
RSV infections can be deadly in older adults, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating that between 6,000 and 10,000 older adults die from RSV-related illnesses each year. The U.S. experienced an unusually severe RSV season last fall, likely due to the public largely stopping public health measures put in place to combat Covid-19.
Moderna's RSV vaccine was developed using the same mRNA technology that made its Covid-19 vaccine so successful. The potential market for an adult RSV vaccine is estimated at $7-10 billion, according to Morgan Stanley. In response to the announcement, Moderna's stock rose nearly 7% in extended trading. The safety and efficacy data from the trial will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and the FDA application is expected to be filed soon.
It remains to be seen whether the Moderna's RSV vaccine will be approved and how effective it will be in the real world. With the prevalence of RSV infections and the potential for serious complications, having an FDA-approved vaccine could have a significant impact on public health.