GSK gets Japanese approval for new ready‑to‑use shingles vaccine format

(Sharecast News) - Drugmaker GSK said on Thursday that Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved a prefilled syringe version of its shingles vaccine Shingrix, offering a simpler, ready‑to‑use presentation for healthcare professionals. GSK said the vaccine was previously supplied in two separate vials that required manual mixing before administration, with the new format removing that step, streamlining use in clinical settings.

Shingrix, a non‑live recombinant sub‑unit vaccine, has been approved in Japan for adults aged 50 and over since 2018, and for adults 18 and over at increased risk of herpes zoster since 2023.

Around 1.1m people in Japan develop shingles each year, with risk rising with age and among those with weakened immune systems.

GSK's head of vaccines and infectious diseases R&D, Sanjay Gurunathan, said: "Shingles is a disease that 1 in 3 adults globally will develop in their lifetime. It can have serious and long-lasting complications. GSK is pleased to support the healthcare community in Japan by making administration of our shingles vaccine easier.

"GSK's prefilled syringe launched in the US in February 2026 and is launching in Europe throughout this year. Approvals are based on data confirming technical comparability between the prefilled syringe and the existing vaccine presentation. The new presentation does not involve a change in indication or dosing."

As of 0850 BST, GSK shares were 0.42% softer at 1,796p.







Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com

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