CNN
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Janssen, the pharmaceutical division of the Johnson & Johnson companies, announced Wednesday that it will scrap development of a vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, in adults.

The company was in late-stage clinical trials of a vaccine to prevent lower respiratory tract disease in adults over the age of 60 with RSV. The vaccine being tested was using an adenovirus vector platform, similar to the technology behind in its Covid-19 vaccine.

Johnson & Johnson has not responded to CNN’s request for comment.

The move comes shortly after rival drugmakers Pfizer and GSK posted positive results for RSV vaccine candidates targeted to older adults.

J&J’s stage 3 clinical trial had enrolled more than 27,000 patients at over 300 study sites in the US and other countries, according to Clinical Trials.gov, a public database of ongoing research.

The company said in a news release that the trial was being stopped after a portfolio review “to prioritize the most transformational assets for ongoing investment” and after an assessment of the “respiratory syncytial virus vaccine landscape.”

“By periodically refocusing our portfolio, Janssen ensures that we are deeply invested in products that have the power to transform patients’ lives,” Dr. Bill Hait, medical officer and interim head of Janssen research and development, said in the release.

“We remain focused on advancing our differentiated pipeline, improving the lives of millions of patients and developing new modalities in areas with the greatest unmet medical need,” Hait said.