Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prevention is Within Reach

In the last decade, the Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine landscape has significantly transitioned from empirical to rational vaccine design. 

To offer keen insights, The Lancet published a Review on August 8, 2022, that characterized the dynamics of the RSV vaccine and treatment landscape, which included multiple late-phase failures and new, innovative vaccine candidates.

The number of RSV candidates in late-phase development is expanding.

A better understanding of RSV neutralizing epitopes has rapidly expanded to the nine vaccine candidates currently conducting late-stage phase 3 trials.

Although the approval of multiple RSV vaccines is within reach, several obstacles to worldwide access remain.

Globally representative clinical studies are needed in countries with the highest disease burden as efficacy can differ based on local populations.

Overall, 'we are at an exciting phase of vaccine and mAb development in which RSV prevention is within reach, wrote these researchers.

'It is likely that multiple immunization strategies with complementary value, unique advantages, and use-case scenarios will shape the RSV prevention landscape.'

'To guarantee worldwide access, urgent steps are required to surmount challenges of measuring protection, monitoring viral resistance, and prioritizing access and affordability.'

To read the entire RSV review, please visit The Lancet.

The U.S. NIH stated in June 2022 that RSV is one of the most common viruses to infect children worldwide and is increasingly recognized as an important pathogen in adults, especially the elderly.

RSV is a widespread pathogen due in part to the lack of long-term immunity after infection, making reinfection frequent.

It infects 90% of children within the first years of life and frequently reinfects older children and adults. 

The most common clinical scenario encountered in RSV infection is an upper respiratory infection.

But RSV commonly presents in young children as bronchiolitis, a lower respiratory tract illness with small airway obstruction, and can rarely progress to pneumonia, respiratory failure, apnea, and death.

Additional RSV vaccine and mAbs news are posted at PrecisionVaccinations.com/RSV.