Proactive Investors - GSK PLC is facing a new competitor for its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine after Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) published data for its alternative, according to analysts at Barclays (LON:BARC).
“Moderna's efficacy data looks in line with GSK's, and, while there are still a lot of questions to answer (timing of market entry, detailed data, duration of effect), we think GSK's underperformance today reflects consideration of a three-player vs. two-player market,” said the bank's analysts.
Earlier this week Moderna revealed that, in a late-stage trial, its RSV vaccine was 83.7% effective at protecting older adults from lower respiratory tract disease.
Full trial results have not yet been released by Moderna, but the pharma said it intends to seek US approval for the vaccine "in the first half of 2023".
Stéphane Bancel, Moderna's chief executive said the "results represent an important step forward in preventing lower respiratory disease due to RSV in adults 60 years of age and older," adding: "These data are encouraging, and represent the second demonstration of positive phase 3 trial results from our mRNA infectious disease vaccine platform after, Spikevax, our COVID-19 vaccine.”
An early-stage trial of the vaccine in children is also underway, Moderna noted.
Having been relatively under the radar for years, RSV has hit the headlines recently on fears of a ‘tripledemic’ of flu, Covid and RSV combined.
Often mistaken for a cold, RSV is a serious condition in infants, young people with other illnesses and the over-65s.
Barclays’ investment view on GSK is ‘equal weight’ with a £14.50 price target.