GSK plc announced that Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has approved a prefilled syringe presentation of Shingrix (Recombinant Zoster Vaccine or RZV) for the prevention of shingles (herpes zoster).

The new prefilled syringe is ready to use, eliminating the need to manually combine the dry, lyophilised antigen with the liquid adjuvant required with the existing two-vial presentation. The change is intended to simplify vaccine administration for healthcare professionals.

Shingrix is a non-live, recombinant sub-unit vaccine approved in Japan for adults aged 50 years and older since 2018, and for adults aged 18 years and older at increased risk of herpes zoster since 2023. Around 1.1 million people in Japan develop shingles each year, with the risk increasing with age and among people with weakened immune systems.

The prefilled syringe was launched in the US in February 2026 and is being introduced across Europe during 2026. The approvals are based on data demonstrating technical comparability between the prefilled syringe and the existing presentation. The new presentation does not change the vaccine’s indication or dosing.

Shingrix combines glycoprotein E, an antigen, with the AS01B adjuvant system. It is used for the prevention of herpes zoster and is not indicated for the prevention of primary varicella infection (chickenpox).