The FDA Approved A New RSV Drug

It is not a vaccine as vaccines prompt the body to produce antibodies aimed to defend against pathogens. Instead, it is a form of passive immunity.

Soon, parents and pediatricians will have a new option to protect babies from RSV.

The FDA has approved nirsevimab to protect newborns from the virus. The drug will be sold under the brand name ‘Beyfortus’. It is not a vaccine as vaccines prompt the body to produce antibodies aimed to defend against pathogens. Instead, it is a form of passive immunity.

The drug is a ready-made antibody that can bind to the virus and block it from infecting healthy cells. The immune system won’t have to produce anything. It will be given as a single injection to an infant before RSV season.

Nirsevimab has been stabilized so it lasts longer in the body and it is approved for use in all infants. In addition, the FDA is also reviewing Pfizer’s vaccine for pregnant women that would also protect babies.