The Johnson & Johnson constructing in Irvine, California is shown.
Mike Blake | Reuters
Johnson & Johnson on Wednesday said it was withdrawing from the respiratory syncytial virus vaccine race, referred to as RSV, weeks after competitors Pfizer AND GSK one step closer to launching the world’s first shot against a deadly virus.
J&J will stop work on its experimental adult RSV vaccine program and abort an important third phase of vaccine trials, the corporate announced in Press release. The Latest Brunswick, Latest Jersey-based healthcare giant based its decision on a portfolio review “to prioritize probably the most transformative assets for current investments.”
“By periodically re-routing our portfolio, Janssen ensures that we’re deeply committed to products that could make a difference in patients’ lives,” Dr. Bill Hait, J&J’s Executive Vice President, said in a release. “We remain focused on growing our diverse pipeline, improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients and developing recent approaches in areas with the best unmet medical needs.” Janssen is the pharmaceutical division of J&J.
J&J shares were relatively flat after the announcement.
Dr. Vamil Divan, Guggenheim’s senior biopharmaceutical analyst, wrote in a Wednesday note that the announcement was “a disappointment, but not an entire surprise.” He added that the corporate maintains a neutral rating for J&J.
“Today’s news doesn’t change our overall view of JNJ’s stock, but we imagine it adds some pressure on the corporate because it must deliver positive updates from other key pharmaceutical assets later this 12 months,” Divan wrote.
Respiratory syncytial virus is a standard virus that typically causes mild cold-like symptoms. Most individuals get better inside every week or two, but older adults and infants may experience more serious infections that may result in hospitalization or death.
Virus kills 6,000 to 10,000 seniors and several hundred children under the age of 5. Cases of RSV unexpectedly increased within the US last winter, overwhelming kid’s hospitals across the country. Since then, the race to create the world’s first RSV vaccine has attracted more attention than ever.
J&J first fired a phase three study in September 2021 with roughly 23,000 adults aged 60 and over. The second phase of the corporate’s RSV vaccine trial has found this provided that 80% protection against severe RSV infections.
But the corporate still lagged behind rivals Pfizer and GSK, which made significant strides toward U.S. approval of its injections last month.
FDA advisers really useful injections from each drugmakers, despite the danger of a rare neurological disorder. An FDA review of Pfizer’s injection found it to offer roughly 86% protection against lower respiratory disease with three or more symptoms, while the same review of GSK’s vaccine found it to be 83% effective.
Drug manufacturer Modern it also has its own potential RSV injection, which has performed well in clinical trials.