On Monday, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (GSK) announced the introduction of Shingrix (Zoster Vaccine Recombinant, Adjuvanted) in India. The vaccine is intended to prevent shingles (herpes zoster) and postherpetic neuralgia in people aged 50 and older.

According to the pharmaceutical firm, Shingrix is the worlds first non-live, recombinant subunit vaccination to be administered intramuscularly in two doses. The company spokesperson noted that the vaccine, Shingrix, can give at least ten years of protection against shingles, which is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. The company also noted that since Shingrix is a non-live vaccine, it can be offered to those above the age of 50 who are immunocompromised and/or immunosuppressed and who are potentially at a greater risk of Shingles disease.

He also added that the vaccine has a proven efficacy of more than 90% against shingles. Shingrix was authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017 for the prevention of shingles in persons aged 50 and up. Shingrix was approved by the European Commission in 2018 for the prevention of shingles in individuals 50 and older.

A seroprevalence study in Indian subjects showed that by the age of 40, more than 90% of the individuals had this virus in their bodies and were vulnerable to shingles. It is also known that adults over 50 years of age and those suffering from chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease are at an increased risk of developing shingles because of weakened immunity.

(Source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/pharma/gsk-launches-anti-shingles-vaccine-in-india/99736570 )