two studies confirm the effectiveness of Beyfortus against bronchiolitis

Sanofi’s Beyfortus is part of recent treatments that, for the first time, promise to immunize many people against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is responsible for most of the respiratory problems associated with bronchiolitis. Two studies published this Friday, April 26, by Public Health France in collaboration with the Pasteur Institute, confirm its effectiveness: this treatment has avoided several thousand hospitalizations.

Published in: 04/28/2024 – 06:49

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Unlike the vaccine, Beyfortus does not cause the body to produce its own antibodies against RSV; these antibodies are administered directly to the patient;

This winter it was subjected to widespread testing in several countries, including France. France is one of the countries that launched a massive childhood immunization campaign last fall, administering more than 200,000 doses. The demand from parents was so great that after a few days they had to stop delivering medications to maternity hospitals.

Confirmation

Although recent studies in Luxembourg, Spain and America have already indicated a clear reduction in the risk of infant hospitalization due to Beyfortus, two French studies confirm this.

The first, a model, allows us to estimate that between mid-September 2023 and the end of January 2024, 5,800 hospitalizations for bronchiolitis were avoided after an emergency department visit: a 23% reduction in young children and even a 35% reduction. . % in infants from 0 to 2 months.

” In real life »

The second study conducted by ” in real life ” although using a reduced sample of 300 infants, the author concludes that the risk of infant NICU admission is reduced by approximately 80% for infants who receive treatment. In addition to the problems for patients, these results are good news for hospital pediatric services, which are always overloaded during the winter.

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