Q3 adj EPS 50.4 pence vs forecast 46 pence
Q3 sales 8.15 bln stg vs forecast 7.77 bln stg
RSV vaccine sales for FY seen at 900 mln stg1 bln stg

Nov 1 Reuters GSK raised its fullyear profit and sales forecasts for a second time on Wednesday, following the strong launch of its respiratory syncytial virus RSV vaccine in the United States.

GSK is betting on RSV vaccine Arexvy to be its next blockbuster medicine as it grapples with a combination of patent expiries and declining revenue from its current bestsellers by the end of this decade.

Arexvy recorded third quarter sales of 709 million pounds 862 million, trouncing analysts39; expectations of 358 million pounds, according to a companycompiled consensus.

The results have soothed worries from investors and analysts about the strength of its pipeline of drugs in development. A renewed focus on vaccines and infectious diseases after the company spun off its consumer healthcare business, Haleon, last year has also lifted sentiment.

GSK accounts for close to twothirds of RSV doses given in the United States since early September, according to IQVIA data.

Arexvy is also the only shot being carried by CVS the largest U.S. pharmacy chain, giving GSK an edge over rival Pfizer whose RSV shot Abrysvo also hit markets recently.

The relatively low exposure to COVID medicines means that unlike some of its peers, falling COVID revenues are being offset by strong growth elsewhere, Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Derren Nathan said….