LONDON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline said on Monday it had filed its shingles vaccine Shingrix for U.S. regulatory approval, bringing the potential blockbuster a step closer to market.

Shingrix is viewed by analysts as among the British drugmaker's most promising experimental products, since it has shown greater protection among older recipients than Merck & Co's rival shot Zostavax.

GSK said it planned to file Shingrix for European and Canadian approval before the end of this year, with Japan following in 2017.

(Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Susan Fenton)