GSK has announced that Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved a prefilled syringe presentation of Shingrix, the company’s recombinant zoster vaccine for the prevention of shingles. The vaccine was previously supplied in two vials that required manual mixing, but the new ready‑to‑use format is designed to make administration more convenient for healthcare professionals.
Shingrix has been approved in Japan since 2018 for adults aged 50 and older, and since 2023 for adults aged 18 and above at increased risk of shingles. Around 1.1 million people in Japan develop the condition each year, with risk rising with age and among people with weakened immune systems.
Sanjay Gurunathan, GSK Head of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Research and Development, said: “Shingles is a disease that 1 in 3 adults globally will develop in their lifetime. It can have serious and long‑lasting complications. GSK is pleased to support the healthcare community in Japan by making administration of our shingles vaccine easier.”
GSK said the prefilled syringe launched in the US in February 2026 and is being introduced across Europe this year. Approvals are based on data confirming technical comparability with the existing two‑vial presentation, with no changes to indication or dosing.
Shingles is caused by reactivation of the varicella‑zoster virus, which remains dormant in more than 90% of adults. The condition typically presents as a painful blistering rash, and up to 30% of people develop post‑herpetic neuralgia, a nerve pain that can last months or even years.
Shingrix combines glycoprotein E with the AS01B adjuvant system and is designed to help overcome age‑related decline in immune responses. It is not indicated for prevention of primary varicella infection.
