GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) today announced that patient dosing has begun in phase 3 clinical programme investigating the safety and efficacy of its Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) candidate vaccine for maternal immunisation (GSK3888550A), following the presentation of positive phase 1/2 safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity data last month.

It is estimated that every year, 33 million cases of RSV occur in children less than 5 years of age globally, with more than 1.4 million hospitalizations of infants under 6 months of age. RSV is a leading cause of respiratory infections such as bronchiolitis (inflammation and congestion of the small airways or bronchioles of the lung) and viral pneumonia (an inflammatory condition of the lung small air sacs or alveoli) in infants