GSK rotavirus vaccine approved in Europe

The GSK vaccine has received approval in Europe before Merck & Co’s Rotateq, which is the only currently approved rotavirus vaccination in the US.

In connection with the European approval of Rotarix, GSK’s development partner Avant Immunotherapeutics is now eligible to receive a $40 million milestone payment.

According to the company, rotavirus disease causes hospitalization of 87,000 babies and over 700,000 visits to the doctor each year in Europe. In total, an estimated 3.6 million of the 23.6 million children under five years of age suffer from rotavirus gastroenteritis in the EU each year.

Rotarix has already been licensed in 33 countries and 1.4 million doses of the vaccine have been distributed since its first launch in Mexico in 2005.

“The availability of a safe and effective vaccine, like Rotarix, is exciting news for physicians as it will not only prevent these distressing symptoms that many children suffer, but will also help to reduce the burden on healthcare resources needed in treating outbreaks of the disease,” commented professor Timo Vesikari, of the University of Tampere in Finland.