When will it be offered?
Quebec will become the first province to cover Beyfortus, an injectable RSV medication for infants. The first deliveries of the product are expected to arrive by the beginning of September. The drug, composed of the antibody nirsevimab, can be administered free of charge from fall 2024 in health establishments. ” It’s fantastic. It is one more weapon in our arsenal to counter this infection for which just a few years ago, there were really very few options,” rejoices the professor specializing in immunology and virology at the National Institute of scientific research (INRS) Alain Lamarre. The government expects the drug to help reduce the number of medical consultations, emergency room visits and hospitalizations related to complications.
Who will be eligible?
All infants younger than 6 months will be eligible during the RSV season, which typically begins in the fall and peaks in the winter. Out of season, the drug will be reserved for vulnerable infants under 6 months of age, with increased risks of complications. Newborns are most likely to suffer complications from the virus. “It can take 6 to 18 months before the child’s immune system is functional enough to be protective,” explains Dr.r Donald Vinh, infectious disease specialist, clinical microbiologist and researcher at the McGill University Health Center (MUHC). Last week, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommended its use in infants.
How does this medicine work?
The drug is administered as soon as the baby is born as a single dose of antibodies by intramuscular injection. “These antibodies will act in the same way as the antibodies that you would produce following an infection or vaccination,” says virologist Benoit Barbeau, professor in the department of biological sciences at UQAM. These laboratory-generated antibodies can attach directly to the virus and prevent it from infecting the cells in the lungs of newborns, explains Alain Lamarre. “It acts a bit like a barrier to reduce the risk of infection. »
Is the medicine effective?
Yes, answers Alain Lamarre. “In clinical studies, children who were treated with the antibody were 70% less likely to develop RSV infection than newborns who were treated with a placebo,” he says. A study carried out in 2022 showed a fairly significant reduction in hospitalizations, adds the Dr Vinh. Side effects of nirsevimab, including pain, redness or swelling where the injection was given, were uncommon during clinical trials, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on its website. of Diseases (CDC) of the United States.
What are the consequences of RSV?
It is a virus that circulates every year during the cold season and causes an infection of the lungs and respiratory tract. “It is the main cause of respiratory infections in children and newborns,” says Professor Alain Lamarre. In healthy adults and children over 2 years old, the virus mainly causes cold-like symptoms: runny nose, cough and fever. The consequences may be more serious in immunocompromised infants and children. “It can cause bronchiolitis and pneumonia, which often requires children to be hospitalized for several days and receive oxygen treatments. They can even be in intensive care and there are deaths every year of children under 6 months old,” says the virology specialist.
Apart from this new drug, how can we protect children from the virus?
“It’s hard to prevent, because it’s a viral infection that is easily transmitted by children who have a runny nose,” says Dr.r Vinh. However, there are other products to protect infants against this disease. Since May 2022, palivizumab, a relatively expensive monoclonal antibody administered in four or five doses, has been offered to infants with high-risk underlying health conditions. A vaccine given during pregnancy is also available. Maternal antibodies against RSV are then transferred to the fetus across the placenta, which temporarily protects the newborn from the virus.