FDA Greenlights Medication to Prevent RSV in Babies
RSV hospitalizes 58,000-80,000 babies each year. The FDA approved a drug to protect infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. The preventive medication, produced by Merck, is the third monoclonal antibody for RSV to be approved in the US. The other versions of the drug have proven highly effective at preventing severe illness in babies. However, their high cost have posed a barrier to some Americans from accessing this treatment. Experts hope the competition created by this new option will lead to lower prices in the future.
Merck’s newly approved product, sold under brand name Enflonsia, was authorized for babies under 12 months. The key difference from the two options currently on the market is the simplicity of dosing. Specifically, Beyfortus has two different-sized doses depending on the child’s weight. By contrast, Enflonsia has one dose approved for all patients regardless of what. This benefit could make the product more popular with pediatricians.
Full Story: STAT
Measles Outbreaks Rage on Across the US
Measles cases continue to pop up across the country, as the US remains at risk of losing its measles elimination status earned in the year 2000. California, Michigan, Alabama, Oklahoma are the latest states to report new infections. The newly confirmed infections were in people who were not vaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.
Full Story: CIDRAP
