THE US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has heeded evidence from clinical trials that GSK's Shingrix is more effective than Merck & Co's Zostavax.
The endorsement, by a 8-7 vote, promises to boost Shingrix sales and confirm its potential as a product with multibillion-dollar sales potential.
ACIP members also recommended that Shingrix should be given routinely to Americans aged over 50 years, compared with 60 years for Zostavax, and they supported revaccination of people who previously received Zostavax.
Only Zostavax is available in Australia at this point,with the US FDA last week approving Shingrix for adults 50 and over (PD 24 Oct).
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