Nirsevimab Effective At Protecting Newborns Against RSV, Study Finds

HealthDay (5/6, Thompson) reports a study found that “newborns can be effectively protected against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection through the use of nirsevimab, a monoclonal antibody treatment.” Researchers observed that “babies treated with nirsevimab had an 83% reduced risk of hospitalization due to RSV infection.” Furthermore, nirsevimab “also reduced the risk of intensive care admissions by 81% and instances of lower respiratory tract infections by 75% in children younger than 1 year old, results show.” Researchers concluded, “Our findings underscore the importance of infant immunization programs in alleviating the health and economic burden of RSV disease in the high-risk period following birth.” The study was published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.