Key TakeawaysModerna shared promising data from a phase 3 clinical trial of its RSV vaccine for adults ages 60 and older this week.The respiratory virus can cause particularly severe disease in babies and older adults.Several other companies are developing RSV vaccines, some of which are expected to be approved later this year.

Key Takeaways

Moderna shared promising data from a phase 3 clinical trial of its RSV vaccine for adults ages 60 and older this week.The respiratory virus can cause particularly severe disease in babies and older adults.Several other companies are developing RSV vaccines, some of which are expected to be approved later this year.

An mRNA vaccine from Moderna can effectively prevent severe illness fromrespiratory syncytial virus (RSV)in adults 60 years and older, the company reported this week.

Several companies have reported success from experimental RSV vaccines in recent months. Moderna’s version is 83.7% effective at protecting against RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease with two or more symptoms.

Moderna shared some of the findings via apress release. The company said it will submit the full data set for peer review and share the results at an upcoming infectious disease medical conference. It plans to submit for regulatory approval in the first half of 2023.

Drugmakers are finalizing their vaccines as the United States is coming off a particularly challenging RSV season. November saw the highest rate of RSV-associated hospitalizations in five years—nearly five times as high as the year before.

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Experts saythe vaccines may help prevent such drastic waves of hospitalization among vulnerable groups.

“In the very young, or pregnant mothers, or in the older population, the vaccine might have tremendous benefit in preventing serious complications,”Aaron Glatt, MD, MACP, Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai Nassau and spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America, told Verywell.

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Moderna’s RSV Vaccine Shows Strong Efficacy Data

Moderna tested the RSV vaccine, called mRNA-1345, in a randomized controlled study of about 37,000 adults 60 years or older in 22 countries.

Nine vaccinated participants got sick with RSV and experienced two or more symptoms, compared to 55 people in the placebo group.

Moderna said the vaccine was “well tolerated with no safety concerns identified.” Most adverse reactions from vaccination were mild or moderate, and most reported symptoms were injection site pain, fatigue, headache, and muscle and joint pains.

Glatt said the data is “exciting.” But experts will need to see the full study results and long-term follow-up to know that the vaccine is truly safe and effective.

“The proof is in the pudding. You need to have the real, hard data to analyze,” Glatt said. “You need to know long-term that this is going to be something that will be of continuing benefit.”

Moderna’s vaccine uses mRNA technology—the same platform the company uses for its COVID-19 vaccine and bivalent booster. mRNA technology is easily adaptable, making it useful for a variety of maladies, from preventive vaccines and cancer therapies.

The RSV vaccine will be especially important for older people with underlying conditions, Glatt said. Those with lung and heart problems are at particularly high risk of complications from RSV infection.

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Multiple RSV Vaccines Are in the Pipeline

The first experimental RSV vaccine was developed in the 1960s. But testing quickly halted, as people who received that vaccine in clinical trials were more likely to get sick and die of RSV than those who took the placebo.

In 2013, researchers discovered a technique to develop safer vaccines.

Pfizer reportedthat its RSV vaccine is 85.7% effective at preventing severe disease in adults older than 60. GSK’s vaccine has areported efficacyof 94.1% in the same age group. Both vaccines could receive FDA approval as early as May.

RSV sends an average of 58,000 to 80,000 kids under the age of 5 to the hospital each year, according to the CDC.

In November,Pfizer sharedthat its maternal vaccine is 81.8% effective at protecting against severe disease in the first three months of an infant’s life, and then nearly 70% effective through the first six months.

There is currently no antiviral treatment for RSV, and there is only one monoclonal antibody option to help prevent severe disease. Last year, drugmakers AstraZeneca and Sanofi reported success in a phase 3 trial of a new monoclonal antibody.

While several vaccines are expected to hit the market later this year, the RSV season usually ends around spring.

“There’s no rush to bring them to market now when we’re almost getting over the RSV season,” Glatt said. “Certainly having this available for next year would be critical.”

What This Means For YouRSV vaccines may not be available for any age group for several more months. In the meantime, wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces, practicing good hand-washing, and staying home when you are sick will help protect you and others from RSV.

What This Means For You

RSV vaccines may not be available for any age group for several more months. In the meantime, wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces, practicing good hand-washing, and staying home when you are sick will help protect you and others from RSV.

4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.RSV-NET interactive dashboard.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.RSV research and surveillance.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Estimated flu-related illnesses, medical visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States – 2019-2020 flu season.McLellan JS, Chen M, Leung S, et al.Structure of RSV fusion glycoprotein trimer bound to a prefusion-specific neutralizing antibody.Science. 2013;340(6136):1113-1117. doi:10.1126/science.1234914

4 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.RSV-NET interactive dashboard.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.RSV research and surveillance.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Estimated flu-related illnesses, medical visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States – 2019-2020 flu season.McLellan JS, Chen M, Leung S, et al.Structure of RSV fusion glycoprotein trimer bound to a prefusion-specific neutralizing antibody.Science. 2013;340(6136):1113-1117. doi:10.1126/science.1234914

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.RSV-NET interactive dashboard.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.RSV research and surveillance.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Estimated flu-related illnesses, medical visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States – 2019-2020 flu season.McLellan JS, Chen M, Leung S, et al.Structure of RSV fusion glycoprotein trimer bound to a prefusion-specific neutralizing antibody.Science. 2013;340(6136):1113-1117. doi:10.1126/science.1234914

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.RSV-NET interactive dashboard.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.RSV research and surveillance.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Estimated flu-related illnesses, medical visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States – 2019-2020 flu season.

McLellan JS, Chen M, Leung S, et al.Structure of RSV fusion glycoprotein trimer bound to a prefusion-specific neutralizing antibody.Science. 2013;340(6136):1113-1117. doi:10.1126/science.1234914

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