New drug to fight RSV infections clears FDA hurdle

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – For decades, RSV has wreaked havoc on children and the health care system because there was no effective treatment for all newborns and kids up to age 2.

On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new drug from AstraZeneca and Sanofi called Beyfortus, which will decrease the number of children who are hospitalized with the virus.

On average in the U.S., there are over 80,000 kids admitted to the hospital from respiratory syncytial virus, and an average of 300 of them die from it each year.

Last year was particularly bad, and Nebraska saw thousands of hospitalizations.

According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, there were about 3,785 RSV-related emergency visits.

“There’s so many kids get admitted because of this,” said Dr. Renuga Vivekanandan, the infectious disease division chief at CHI Health Creighton. “A lot of other children need other care, too, for like heart surgery and other important things.”

The new drug works by introducing antibodies into the child, giving them protection without having to get a vaccine.

A vaccine would mean the child would have to make their own antibodies.

The drug can be given as a single injection to newborns and infants during their first RSV season, and kids up to age 2 can receive a second dose during their second season.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet on Aug. 3 to evaluate and vote on whether to add the drug to the children’s vaccine schedule.