GSK ROTAVIRUS VACCINE WINS WHO PREQUALIFICATION

The Pan American Health Organization will be able to purchase large amounts of GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) rotavirus vaccine for use in mass vaccination programs now that the shot has been awarded prequalification status by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Rotarix was first introduced in Mexico in 2005. The two-dose oral vaccine has been shown to protect against the most common circulating strains of rotavirus. It is part of national immunization programs in Brazil, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela.

WHO prequalification is an established mechanism to facilitate the supply of new vaccines to regions where they are most urgently needed. GSK will be the first company to be able to offer a rotavirus vaccine for use in mass immunization programs. The WHO endorsement complements the recent decision by the GAVI Alliance to finance rotavirus vaccines for use in developing countries.