"Risk of Complications in Adults Aged 60 and Older"
Emphasis on Prevention Due to Lack of Treatment
Maurizio Borgata, CEO of Korea GSK, is delivering the opening remarks at the press conference commemorating the launch of Arexvi Korea, held on the 14th at the Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Choi Taewon
A vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a legally designated infectious disease that poses a significant risk to the elderly, will be launched in Korea at the end of this month.
Korea GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) held a press conference on the 14th at the Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the Korean launch of its RSV vaccine, Arexvi. Maurizio Borgata, CEO of Korea GSK, stated, "Last year, there were as many as 8,976 patients hospitalized due to RSV infection in Korea, but there were no available treatments or preventive measures," and added, "Arexvi is the world's first RSV vaccine and will serve as the first milestone in RSV prevention in Korea."
Arexvi is the world's first and only RSV vaccine. According to clinical research, Arexvi demonstrated an 82.6% efficacy in preventing RSV infection, and a 94.6% efficacy in preventing severe RSV-LRTD (lower respiratory tract disease) in patients with at least one underlying condition. Previously, in December of last year, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved Arexvi for the prevention of RSV-induced LRTD in adults aged 60 and older.
RSV infection is an acute respiratory disease caused by the respiratory syncytial virus, which belongs to the Pneumoviridae family. Since no treatment has been developed yet, vaccination is considered highly important. Along with influenza and COVID-19, it is classified as a Category 4 legally designated infectious disease. It is as contagious as influenza and is particularly dangerous for high-risk groups, as it can lead to complications such as pneumonia. For this reason, it is one of the diseases that imposes significant physical and economic burdens on high-risk groups. Common symptoms include runny nose, sore throat, cough, and sputum, as well as nasal congestion, hoarse voice, and distinctive wheezing and rattling breathing sounds (wheezing) caused by narrowing of the airways.
Professor Moon Jiyong of the Department of Respiratory and Allergy Medicine at Konkuk University Medical Center is speaking at the ALEXB Korea launch press conference held on the 14th at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Choi Taewon
The main high-risk groups for RSV infection are: ▲ adults aged 60 and older ▲ infants and young children ▲ patients with chronic heart and lung diseases. In particular, for the elderly, RSV infection can lead to complications such as pneumonia, chronic respiratory disease, hypoxemia, and respiratory distress. Additionally, in cases where there are comorbidities such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or congestive heart failure (CHF), RSV infection can worsen these underlying conditions.
On this day, Professor Moon Jiyong of the Department of Respiratory and Allergy Medicine at Konkuk University Medical Center gave a presentation titled "RSV Prevention Strategies and the Clinical Value of Arexvi for Adults Aged 60 and Older," stating, "RSV infection can cause complications such as pneumonia in adults aged 60 and older, which may require hospitalization and, in severe cases, can even lead to death." He added, "According to domestic research, 56.8% of adults aged 65 and older who were hospitalized for RSV infection developed pneumonia, and 10.6% died."
The risk increases further when underlying diseases are present. According to a study conducted on patients aged 60 and older hospitalized due to RSV, among those with underlying diseases, 38.6% had heart failure, 35.4% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and 28.6% had asthma.
Professor Moon explained, "Despite the high risks associated with RSV infection, the disease burden has been underestimated due to low awareness," and emphasized, "At present, there is no specific treatment other than symptomatic therapy, so prevention is most important." Symptomatic therapy refers to a treatment method that addresses the patient's symptoms according to their presentation.
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