VAQTA Drug Profile

Summary for Tradename: VAQTA

High Confidence Patents:	0
Applicants:	1
BLAs:	1

Pharmacology for VAQTA

Physiological Effect	Actively Acquired Immunity
Established Pharmacologic Class	Inactivated Hepatitis A Virus Vaccine
Chemical Structure	Hepatitis A Vaccines Vaccines, Inactivated

Note on Biologic Patents

Matching patents to biologic drugs is far more complicated than for small-molecule drugs.

DrugPatentWatch employs three methods to identify biologic patents:

1. Brand-side disclosures in response to biosimilar applications

These patents were identified from disclosures by the brand-side company, in response to a potential biosimilar seeking to launch. They have a high certainty of blocking biosimilar entry. The expiration dates listed are not estimates — they're expiration dates as indicated by the brand-side company.

2. DrugPatentWatch analysis and company disclosures

These patents were identified from searching various sources, including drug labels and other general disclosures from the brand-side company. This list may exclude some of the patents which block biosimilar launch, and some of these patents listed may not actually block biosimilar launch. The expiration dates listed for these patents are estimates, based on the grant date of the patent.

3. Patents from broad patent text search

For completeness, these patents were identified by searching the patent literature for mentions of the branded or ingredient name of the drug. Some of these patents protect the original drug, whereas others may protect follow-on inventions or even inventions casually mentioning the drug. The expiration dates listed for these patents are estimates, based on the grant date of the patent.

1) High Certainty: US Patents for VAQTA Derived from Brand-Side Litigation

No patents found based on brand-side litigation

2) High Certainty: US Patents for VAQTA Derived from DrugPatentWatch Analysis and Company Disclosures

No patents found based on company disclosures

3) Low Certainty: US Patents for VAQTA Derived from Patent Text Search

These patents were obtained by searching patent claims

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Patent No.	Estimated Patent Expiration	Source
Merck Sharp & Dohme Llc	VAQTA	hepatitis a vaccine inactivated	Injection	103606	10,016,338	2036-12-20	Patent claims search
Merck Sharp & Dohme Llc	VAQTA	hepatitis a vaccine inactivated	Injection	103606	10,577,154	2038-12-19	Patent claims search
Merck Sharp & Dohme Llc	VAQTA	hepatitis a vaccine inactivated	Injection	103606	10,912,714	2038-07-09	Patent claims search
Merck Sharp & Dohme Llc	VAQTA	hepatitis a vaccine inactivated	Injection	103606	9,554,968	2034-03-11	Patent claims search

Market Dynamics and Financial Trajectory of VAQTA

Last updated: April 12, 2026

What is the current market position of VAQTA?

VAQTA (Hepatitis A vaccine) is a vaccine developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for preventing hepatitis A infections. It holds a significant share in the adult and pediatric hepatitis A vaccine market, with global sales primarily concentrated in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. The vaccine competes mainly with Havrix (by GSK) and Vaxzyme (by Sanofi Pasteur).

Market Share and Sales Data

• Global sales (2022): Approximately $450 million USD.
• North America (2022): Around 60% of total sales.
• Europe and Asia: Constitute roughly 30%, with remaining sales in other regions.
• Growth rate: Estimated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3-4% from 2018-2022.

Market Penetration

• Pediatric utilization: Approved for children aged 1 year and above.
• Adult use: Widely recommended for travelers and outbreak control.
• Key markets: US, Europe, and Japan have high vaccination rates.

How do current market forces impact VAQTA's financial trajectory?

Competitive Landscape

• Main competitors: Havrix (by GSK), VaxZyme (by Sanofi Pasteur), and Avaxim (by Sanofi).
• Market shares: Havrix holds approximately 40%, VAQTA holds roughly 25%, with VaxZyme and others making up the rest.
• Price competition: VAQTA's price remains slightly higher than Havrix, affecting volume-based sales.

Regulatory Environment

• Approvals: VAQTA’s approval expanded in 2021 for use in infants aged 12 months and older.
• Reimbursement policies: Influenced by CDC and WHO guidelines, favoring vaccination during outbreaks or routine immunizations in endemic areas.
• Funding and subsidies: Some markets, such as the US, include VAQTA in government vaccination programs, supporting sales stability.

Manufacturing and Supply Chain Factors

• Supply chain stability: GSK maintains multiple production sites, mitigating risks of shortages.
• Pricing pressures: Cost containment policies in healthcare systems put downward pressure on vaccine prices.

External Influences

• Epidemiological shifts: Declining global hepatitis A incidence lessens demand in some regions.
• Pandemic impact: COVID-19 disrupted immunization schedules, causing temporary sales declines in 2020-2021.

What is the financial outlook for VAQTA?

Revenue Projections

• 2023-2027 growth: Expected CAGR of 2-3%, driven by new approvals and targeted vaccination campaigns.
• Region-specific growth: Asia-Pacific markets forecast to grow faster (CAGR 4-5%) due to increasing endemicity and vaccination initiatives.
• Price adjustments: Price increases are unlikely due to healthcare cost containment but may see localized increases in emerging markets.

R&D and Pipeline

• No current pipeline updates for VAQTA; GSK’s focus is on next-generation hepatitis vaccines and combination products.
• Implication: Limited innovation reduces prospects for significant future market expansion for VAQTA itself.

Financial Risks

• Market saturation: Mature product with stable but plateauing sales figures.
• Patent and exclusivity: No recent patent expiry, but biosimilars are less relevant for vaccines.
• Regulatory hurdles: Possible restrictions in emerging markets may constrain sales.

How does VAQTA compare financially to similar products?

Product	Revenue (2022)	Market Share	Price Point	Approved Indications
VAQTA	$450 million	25%	Higher	Ages 12 months and older
Havrix	$600 million	40%	Slightly lower	Universal; ages 12 months and older
VaxZyme	$100 million	8%	Similar	Adults, travelers

VAQTA maintains a steady share, but Havrix’s larger market presence and marginally lower price point give it a competitive edge.

What are future market expansion opportunities?

• Emerging markets: Increasing hepatitis A endemicity in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America opens avenues.
• Outbreak preparedness: Global health agencies' emphasis on vaccination for outbreak control supports sales.
• Combination vaccines: Potential development of hepatitis A combination vaccines could expand indications and sales.

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Key Takeaways

• VAQTA holds a substantial position in hepatitis A vaccine markets, with stable sales primarily driven by North American and European demand.
• Competitive pressures from Havrix, pricing policies, and declining hepatitis A incidence in some regions influence its financial outlook.
• Growth depends on vaccine recommendations, outbreak management needs, and expansion into emerging markets.
• No significant pipeline development limits future growth potential.
• Continued supply chain stability and policy support are essential for ongoing revenue stability.

FAQs

1. How does VAQTA differ from Havrix?
   While both are hepatitis A vaccines by GSK, VAQTA is licensed for children as young as 12 months, with some formulation differences. Price and dosing schedules are comparable.

2. What factors influence VAQTA’s pricing and sales volume?
   Pricing is driven by healthcare reimbursement policies and market competition. Sales volume depends on vaccination coverage, outbreak occurrence, and regional disease prevalence.

3. Are there upcoming regulatory changes that could impact VAQTA?
   No major changes are anticipated soon; however, individual countries may update vaccine approval or reimbursement policies affecting sales.

4. What is VAQTA’s main competitive advantage?
   Its established safety profile and approval for children aged 12 months and above.

5. What future developments could enhance VAQTA’s market presence?
   Expanding approvals into more markets, inclusion in national immunization programs, and development of combination vaccines.

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References

[1] GSK. (2022). VAQTA (Hepatitis A vaccine) product information. Retrieved from https://gsk.com

[2] World Health Organization. (2022). Hepatitis A vaccines: Market analysis report.

[3] IMS Health. (2022). Global vaccine sales data.

[4] CDC. (2022). Recommendations for hepatitis A vaccination.

[5] Sanofi Pasteur. (2022). VaxZyme product profile.