Moderna's RSV Vaccine: A New Hope for Elderly Adults in the UK

Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA) has received a significant boost in its quest to protect elderly adults from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granting marketing authorization for its RSV vaccine, mRESVIA, in the UK. This approval marks a crucial milestone for Moderna, as it expands its portfolio of mRNA vaccines beyond COVID-19 and addresses a pressing public health concern.

RSV is a highly contagious seasonal respiratory virus that primarily affects infants and older adults, leading to severe lower respiratory tract infections and pneumonia. In the UK, RSV is responsible for a substantial disease burden, with approximately 175,000 GP appointments, 14,000 hospitalizations, and 8,000 deaths in adults aged 65 and over each year (Moderna, 2025). The MHRA's approval of mRESVIA offers a much-needed solution to protect elderly adults from this potentially life-threatening virus.

The approval of mRESVIA is based on positive data from the Phase 3 clinical trial ConquerRSV, which involved approximately 37,000 adults aged 60 and older in 22 countries. The trial demonstrated that mRESVIA had a vaccine efficacy (VE) of 83.7% against RSV lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) with 3.7 months of median follow-up. The vaccine maintained durable efficacy, with a sustained VE of 63.3% against RSV-LRTD, including two or more symptoms, at 8.6 months of median follow-up (Moderna, 2024).

The most common side effects of mRESVIA, which may affect more than 1 in 10 people, include swelling/tenderness in the underarm, headache, muscle ache, joint aches, pain at the injection site, tiredness, and chills. No serious safety concerns were identified in the Phase 3 trial (MHRA, 2025).



Moderna's RSV vaccine, mRESVIA, is an mRNA vaccine that consists of an mRNA sequence encoding a stabilized prefusion F glycoprotein. The F glycoprotein is expressed on the surface of the virus and is required for infection by helping the virus to enter host cells. The prefusion conformation of the F protein is a significant target of potent neutralizing antibodies and is highly conserved across both RSV-A and RSV-B subtypes (Moderna, 2025).

The approval of mRESVIA by the MHRA has significant implications for the global RSV vaccine market, particularly in the UK and Europe. The global RSV vaccine market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2024 to 2032, reaching USD 2.13 billion by 2032 (IMR Market Reports, 2024). With the approval of mRESVIA, Moderna joins other major players like Pfizer and GSK in the RSV vaccine market, driving innovation and improving access to RSV vaccines for patients and healthcare providers.

In conclusion, the MHRA's approval of Moderna's RSV vaccine, mRESVIA, is a significant milestone in the fight against RSV, particularly for elderly adults in the UK. With its high efficacy and safety profile, mRESVIA offers a much-needed solution to protect vulnerable populations from this potentially life-threatening virus. The approval also has significant implications for the global RSV vaccine market, driving growth and innovation in the sector. As Moderna continues to expand its portfolio of mRNA vaccines, the company is well-positioned to make a significant impact on public health and address pressing global health concerns.