GSK plc (LON:GSK, NYSE: GSK) has announced Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has approved a prefilled syringe presentation of Shingrix (GSK’s Recombinant Zoster Vaccine or RZV) for the prevention of shingles (herpes zoster).
The vaccine previously came as two vials – a dry (lyophilised) antigen and a liquid adjuvant – which had to be combined manually before use. The new prefilled syringe is ready-to-use, making administration simpler and more convenient for healthcare professionals.
Shingrix (Recombinant Zoster Vaccine or RZV) is a non-live, recombinant sub-unit vaccine approved by the Japanese MHLW for the prevention of herpes zoster (HZ) in adults aged 50 years and older since 2018, and in adults aged 18 years and older at increased risk of HZ since 2023. Approximately 1.1 million people in Japan develop shingles each year,1,2 with risk increasing with age and among people with weakened immune systems.1,2
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’s prefilled syringe launched in the US in February 2026 and is launching in Europe throughout this year. Approvals are based on data confirming technical comparability between the prefilled syringe and the existing vaccine presentation. The new presentation does not involve a change in indication or dosing.
1 Adachi-Katayama, M., Kanda, N., Sasakura, S., Hatakeyama, S. Epidemiology of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in Japan: analysis of a large-scale claims database. BMC Infect Dis. 2026 Jan 10;26(1):287. doi: 10.1186/s12879-026-12534-0. [Last accessed: July 2026]
2 Statistics Bureau of Japan. (2024). Population estimates as of October 1, 2023. [Available from: https://www.stat.go.jp/data/jinsui/2023np/index.html Last Accessed: July 2026]
