It is an innovative treatment. A vast study published this Friday, May 2 confirms that Beyfortus, which is intended to immunize babies against the main virus behind bronchiolitis, is very effective in preventing serious infections from the syncitial respiratory virus (VR) in babies.
If national studies had already concluded that this treatment had limited hospitalizations for babies, which were announced in the health of Lancet Child & Adolescent offers the strongest panorama of the state of knowledge.
Bronchiolitis, which causes respiratory difficulties, especially for babies during the first six months of their lives, generally has no serious. However, sometimes it can lead to emergency passes and hospitalizations.
Studies in five countries
Beyfortus is part of a series of innovative treatments that aim to prevent or limit infection by the main virus behind this disease. Narsevimab, the name of the molecule, is not a vaccine, even if it is injectable, but a preventive treatment that prevents the virus from infecting the body.
After successful clinical trials, this monoclonal antibody, developed by Sanofi in association with the British Astrazeneca, was approved by several regulatory agencies in 2023 and then made available to certain high -income countries.
According to the meta-analysis, published on Friday, 27 studies carried out during the 2023-2024 VRS season in five countries (France, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, United States), Nersevimab reduces an average of 83% the risk of hospitalization due to infection by virus bronchiolitis, 81% intensive care and 75% of lower respiration in support in children 12 months.
This immunization seemed more effective in preventing the hospitalization of babies for 3 months (81%) than those of 3 months or less (76%), observed their authors.
Variable efficiency depending on the country
However, Northimab’s efficiency in reducing hospitalizations linked to bronchiolitis seemed variable depending on the country, higher in the United States (93%) than in Spain (83%) and in France (76%).
Possible explanation, according to researchers: a greater proportion of high-risk serious infection babies received this treatment in the United States, where this category was a priority during the 2023-2024 bronchiolitis season due to the limited supply in Beyfortus. More research would be needed to verify this hypothesis.
This meta -analysis has limits, recognizes its authors. The studies taken into account were observational, which can lead to a bias linked to underlying health problems, socioeconomic state or regional differences in access to care.
Source: BFM TV
