Third-quarter sales of Pfizer’s new vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus were lower than a year earlier, but the company cited signs of market share expansion as a reason to be confident in the vaccine’s market potential.
From July to September, Abrisvo generated $356 million in worldwide sales for Pfizer, compared with last year’s total of $375 million, according to third-quarter results that Pfizer reported Tuesday. Abrysvo was only approved for seniors in the U.S. until the end of May last year, so revenue in the first nine months reached $557 million, compared with $375 million in the year-ago period, and continued to grow. I did.
So far, Pfizer has lagged behind rival GSK, which has captured the nascent RSV vaccine market with its vaccine Aleksby, even though it only won approval a few weeks ago. I was able to control it.
But Pfizer said Abrysvo’s market share increased and exceeded 50% of shipments in the third quarter. In prepared remarks, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said the vaccination rate in Abrisbo’s retail sector also “increased for nine consecutive weeks until mid-October and now stands at 43%.” said.
Both companies are working to expand the number of people eligible for vaccination. Last week, the Food and Drug Administration cleared Abrysvo for use in certain adults ages 18 to 59 who are at high risk for RSV-related illnesses. Previously, it was only available to adults over 60 or pregnant women.
Aamir Malik, Pfizer’s head of commercial operations, said on a conference call Tuesday that the company is seeing “very good momentum” in vaccinating mothers. In the first four weeks of the season, Pfizer shipped 56% more Abrisvo to the health system’s obstetricians and gynecologists than during the same period last year, Malik said.
But recommendations issued this summer by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have somewhat discouraged uptake among older adults. The agency has narrowed its guidance to most strongly urge adults 75 and older and high-risk people ages 60 to 74 to get vaccinated.
Company executives said updated guidelines are having an impact on adoption. “From a market perspective, the volume (of the Abrisvo vaccine) is lower than last year,” Malik said on a call Tuesday, citing CDC recommendations and the timing of this year’s coronavirus vaccinations.
CDC advisers, who have since met again following the recommendation, also do not support extending the recommendation to adults under 60 or recommending revaccination for those who were previously vaccinated.
Outgoing Pfizer chief scientific officer Mikael Dorsten said Tuesday that the company is accumulating evidence about revaccination and suggested that a booster shot may be appropriate in a few years.
Beyond RSV, Pfizer is also talking about a next-generation pneumococcal vaccine that it hopes will eventually replace the best-selling Prevnar 20. One covers 25 serotypes of disease-causing bacteria and is in Phase 2 trials. Another, covering more than 30 serotypes, is in preclinical development.
Both vaccines will provide additional coverage against pneumococcal disease, but Pfizer has a competitor. Merck & Co. recently won approval for a 21-valent injectable called Capvaxive, and biotech company Vaxcyte was impressed by early trial data for a rival product. Jefferies analysts said in a note to clients that Pfizer’s 25-valent vaccine may be difficult to compete with.
