The United States on Wednesday (May 3) approved for the first time a vaccine against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes bronchiolitis, for adults 60 and older, health authorities said.
This approval of the Arexvi vaccine by British pharmaceutical giant GSK, “is a significant public health success in preventing a disease that can be fatal“, welcomed Peter Marks, who is in charge of the US Medicines Agency (FDA), in a press release.
83% efficiency
RSV is a very common and highly contagious virus, best known for causing bronchiolitis (an infection of the small bronchi) in young children during the winter. But it also affects adults and can be dangerous for the elderly when it develops into a respiratory infection (bronchiolitis or pneumonia). According to US health authorities, this virus causes the death of 6,000 to 10,000 people in the US aged 65 and older.
The FDA’s clearance is based on a clinical trial involving approximately 25,000 participants, half of whom received the vaccine and the other half a placebo. The vaccine was found to be 83% effective in preventing lower respiratory tract infections. Last week, this same vaccine received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Pfizer and Moderna Laboratories are also developing an RSV vaccine for the elderly.
Source: Le Figaro
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