AstraZeneca and Sanofi’s Beyfortus (nirsevimab) showed positive results in their HARMONIE trial, demonstrating that the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) injection could significantly reduce infant hospitalisations.
AstraZenecaas coSanofiy tBeyfortussinirsevimabl Southampton, the University of Southampton, St George’s University Hospital and the University of Nottingham, with support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
However, for some infants, it can cause more severe lung problems, including bronchiolitis and pneumonia.cold-like symptoms
Involving 8,058 infants under the age of 12 months from the UK, France and Gebronchiolitisre eipneumoniar approaching their first RSV season, results from the trial showed that a single dose of Beyfortus offered immediate protection against RSV.
Beyfortus, a human monoclonal antibody that is designed to bind to the fusion protein on the surface of the RSV virus, has already received approval from the European Commission and the US Food BeyfortusAdministration to treat newborns and iRSVnts during their first RSV season.
Beyfortus037 infants who were randomly assigned to receive the antibody injection, the efficacy of Beyfortus against hospitalisation for RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection wasFood and Drug Administrationermany and 83.4% in the UK, with minimal adverse events, in comparison to infants who received no RSV intervention.
Professor Saul Faust, co-study leader and director of NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility, Beyfortusese latest results show that RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infectionect thousands of babies from hospitalisation when used in conditions similar to routine clinical practice.”
Dr Simon Royal, NIHR national specialty lead, primary NIHR and honorary assistant professor, University of Nottingham Medical School, said: “This study has shown how primary care clinicians, hospital specialists and the whole UK NIHR system can work together in a new partnership with industry to deliver rapid data to support a critical NHS need.”
Usually occurring from October, peaking in December, until March, the antibody injection could ease the strain that RSV typically causes on NHS resources during the winter season, in both secondary and primary care.