A single dose of a new antibody treatment for babies could reduce infant hospitalisations due to the seasonal virus by more than 80% according to the results from the trial
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes a chest infection and cold like symptoms. Around 9 out of 10 children are impacted by the winter virus before they reach the age of two, normally with mild symptoms, however for some it can lead to complications such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Over 30,000 children are admitted to to hospital with RSV each year in England making it one of the biggest causes of infant hospitalisations. The virus also causes between 20 and 30 infant deaths annually in the UK but kills 100,000 under-fives every year across the world.
The Harmonie study has been supported by a number of our local GP practices. 8,000 infants were recruited to the pragmatic trial aged up to the age of 12 months with half of them receiving a single dose of the monoclonal antibody treatment nirsevimab. Nirsevimab was developed by AstraZeneca and Sanofi and approved for use in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in November 2022.
Results of the study indicate RSV-related hospitalisations were reduced by 83% in those receiving the jab and admissions for all chest infections were cut by 58%. The findings have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
From BBC article authored by Fergus Walsh, BBC Medical Editor: Jab for winter virus could cut baby hospitalisations by 80%, study says
"Lorna and Russell Smith's eldest son, Caolan, got the virus when he was eight months old and was admitted to hospital twice - each time requiring oxygen. Now aged two, he has made a full recovery.
"I hadn't heard of RSV and wasn't sure what to do. He had laboured breathing due to high temperature and was quite lethargic. It brought a lot of anxiety and stress," Lorna said. The family, from Southampton, hope their one-month-old Rian will be able to have the RSV antibody injection if it is approved for use in the NHS."
Prof Saul Faust, co-study leader at the University of Southampton and a consultant paediatrician, said:
"These latest results show that this long-acting antibody is safe and could protect thousands of babies from hospitalisation when used in conditions similar to routine clinical practice. It is really important information for the UK to help decide on options for the future national RSV immunisation programme."
Dr Simon Drysdale, co-study leader and consultant paediatrician at St George’s University hospitals, said:
“RSV is a very contagious infection and every year our wards are full of babies with breathing and feeding problems. The thousands of winter hospital admissions are highly distressing for families and cause a huge winter burden on the NHS. This groundbreaking study shows the potential NHS impact and safety of a monoclonal antibody injection.”
The Guardian's Health and Inequalities Correspondent Tobi Thomas has written article with more information: Vaccine could cut RSV hospital admissions in babies by 80%, study finds.
The published findings are available from the New England Journal of Medicine: Nirsevimab for Prevention of Hospitalizations Due to RSV in Infants
Image: Kenan Zhang