Pfizer RSV vaccine gets off to fast start on market

Dive Brief:

• Pfizer on Tuesday said it continued to see growth from its non-COVID products, particularly with Abrysvo, a preventive respiratory syncytial virus vaccine that has made hundreds of millions of dollars in the three months following the shot’s approval.
• Pfizer said Abrysvo made $375 million in the U.S. between July and September. The shot is approved both for older adults and for maternal immunization; however, Pfizer did not disclose the number of doses and sales for maternal use. “We believe Abrysvo will be a significant and growing contributor to revenue as many customers have indicated to us that protecting both populations with one vaccine is desirable and a competitive advantage for Abrysvo,” said Albert Bourla, Pfizer’s CEO, on a call with investors.
• Earlier this month, the pharmaceutical giant adjusted its 2023 financial guidance, lowering its revenue forecast by $9 billion in response to a major decline in COVID-19 product sales. The company also said it plans to reduce staff.

Dive Insight:

Pfizer had braced for a steep decline in revenue from its COVID products Comirnaty and Paxlovid. Still, the pharma didn’t expect demand to drop off as much as has happened in the U.S. The company is now banking on the rest of its infectious disease portfolio to help compensate.

RSV vaccine sales are expected to pick up some of the slack. Pfizer’s Abrysvo gained clearance from the Food and Drug Administration in May, just a couple of weeks after a rival shot from Bristish drugmaker GSK gained approval in older adults. GSK is scheduled to announce new sales numbers for its vaccine, called Arexvy, on Wednesday.

So far, Pfizer has been pleased with Abrysvo’s early performance on the market. The shot’s launch is a contributing factor to the company’s non-COVID operational revenue growth, which rose by 10%.

However, Pfizer believes the shot will contribute even more revenue, as it is the only approved RSV vaccine with clearance in maternal immunization.

Sanofi and partner AstraZeneca have an antibody shot, Beyfortus, that is approved for use in newborns to protect against RSV. But earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asked physicians to ration it to higher-risk infants amid a supply shortage. Due to a limited supply, the CDC has asked doctors to conserve 100mg doses or recommend another RSV antibody, Synagis, in eligible newborns.

Additionally, the CDC is now encouraging pregnant people receive Pfizer’s shot. Abrysvo’s maternal guidance has a short window of use, though. The CDC recommends it for pregnant people between 32 and 36 weeks gestation from September through January to align with RSV season.

In Tuesday’s earnings call, Pfizer said Abrysvo will be available in multiple settings such as pharmacies, OBGYN offices and doctor offices for both older adult and maternal immunization. And with the winter season coming up, the company expects to see “good uptake.”

Pfizer is continuing to prepare for other launches in its infectious disease portfolio including Prevnar 20 and its mRNA flu vaccine. The flu candidate, originally predicted to launch next year, is now expected to enter the market after 2024.

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