©Reuters. FILE PHOTO. GSK logo illustration image. January 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic
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June 6 (Reuters) – British drugmaker GSK (LON:) said on Monday its vaccine, Priorix, had been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention of measles, mumps and rubella in people of one year or more.
The vaccine can be given in two doses and can also be given as a second injection to people who have previously been vaccinated with a first dose of another MMR-containing vaccine, GSK said.
Childhood vaccination rates in the United States dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic as many children skipped doctor’s appointments and states eased vaccination requirements during distance learning, according to a government study published last month. .
“We are proud to make Priorix available in the US for the first time, adding an option for providers to help protect patients against these highly contagious diseases,” said GSK US Head of Vaccines Judy Stewart.
In recent years, measles outbreaks have occurred around the world, with more than 400,000 confirmed cases in 2019, reversing progress towards elimination of the disease in many countries.
Priorix, Priorix Tetra and varicella vaccine Varilrix contributed about 260 million pounds ($325.99 million) to GSK’s vaccine turnover last year.
GSK, which is spinning off its consumer health business, is turning its attention to vaccines and prescription drugs.
(1 US dollar = 0.7976 pounds)
(Reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in Bangalore; editing in Spanish by Benjamin Mejias Valencia)
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