New Prevention Helps Alleviate Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Lung Infection in Babies and on Providers

By Mamadou Niang, Pediatric Vaccine Specialist

Each year, winter virus season (typically fall-spring) greatly impacts infants, families and providers around the nation with an uptick in respiratory illnesses. This was especially acute in the 2022-23 season.

As a proud uncle of ten nephews and one niece, I am relieved to finally have a product like Beyfortus^® (nirsevimab-alip) 50mg and 100mg Injection approved. Beyfortus is a prescription medicine used to help prevent a serious lung disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in:

• Newborns and babies under 1 year of age born during or entering their first RSV season.
• Children up to 24 months of age who remain at risk of severe RSV disease through their second RSV season.

See below for full Important Safety Information.

RSV is so unpredictable, and it can happen to any infant, even those born full-term and healthy. In fact, my nephew had RSV last year at six months old, and like too many other mothers around the nation, my sister had to drive to her nearest hospital to seek greater care for her son.

As a pharmaceutical representative, RSV is what keeps me up at night – but Beyfortus is what gets me going in the morning. I am proud to work for a company dedicated to advancing public health, and I am motivated by all of the physicians who want to help protect their infant patients against RSV.

Since the launch of Beyfortus, I’ve had the privilege of seeing its early impact in the community. Dr. Milagros Ariza, a pediatrician from West End Pediatrics in Washington D.C., was one of the first to receive doses and inoculate infants against RSV lung disease. This is what she shared with me:

“As a pediatrician, I've witnessed the significant challenges that RSV infections have posed over the years, especially for our youngest patients. The impact on infants, particularly those under the age of 1, can be severe and even life-threatening. With limited treatment options available, prevention has always been our primary focus. The introduction of the new monoclonal antibody Beyfortus has brought a ray of hope to the pediatric population. This breakthrough therapy offers a promising tool in our efforts to help protect infants from the potentially devastating effects of RSV.”

For too long, parents and care providers have experienced the emotional and financial toll of RSV; finally, things are changing. At the end of the day, the hope for everyone is to provide access to preventative options for infants, and Beyfortus will help us get closer to that. Currently, insurance coverage is in place for nearly 100% of infant lives in the U.S. To help facilitate ongoing access to available doses for eligible babies, Sanofi continues to work closely with providers in the private market and the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program to best support the communities they serve. Nearly 40% of eligible babies could have the ability to be immunized against RSV with Beyfortus this RSV season.

I take immense pride in contributing to the fight against RSV and look forward to seeing the continued impact on infants and families in the years to come.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Your child should not take Beyfortus if your child has a history of serious allergic reactions to nirsevimab-alip or any of the ingredients in Beyfortus.

Before your child receives Beyfortus, tell your healthcare provider about all of your child’s medical conditions, including if your child:

• has ever had a reaction to Beyfortus.
• has bleeding or bruising problems. If your child has a problem with bleeding or bruises easily, an injection could cause a problem.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines your child takes, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Your infant should not receive a medicine called palivizumab if they have already received Beyfortus in the same RSV season.

Serious allergic reactions have happened with Beyfortus. Get medical help right away if your child has any of the following signs or symptoms of a serious allergic reaction:

• swelling of the face, mouth, or tongue
• difficulty swallowing or breathing
• unresponsiveness
• bluish color of skin, lips, or under fingernails
• muscle weakness
• severe rash, hives, or itching

The most common side effects of Beyfortus include rash and pain, swelling, or hardness at the site of your child’s injection. These are not all the possible side effects of Beyfortus. Call your healthcare provider if you have questions about side effects.

INDICATION

Beyfortus is a prescription medicine used to help prevent a serious lung disease caused by Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in:

• Newborns and babies under 1 year of age born during or entering their first RSV season.
• Children up to 24 months of age who remain at risk of severe RSV disease through their second RSV season.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information, for more details.