The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has given the green light to the marketing in the European Union (EU) of a drug that could be prescribed as a preventive measure against bronchiolitis.
It is one of the most promising drugs that has recently been authorized the European Commission on prior notice from theEuropean Medicines Agency (EMA).
Beyfortus, developed by Sanofi and AstraZeneca, could prove to be a valuable ally against bronchiolitis which affects many infants each year.
The drug would have an important preventive action against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), responsible for most bronchiolitis (60 to 70% of cases), reports CNN Portugal.
Anticorps monoclonal antiviral
The active molecule of this treatment, nirsevimab, is an antiviral monoclonal antibody that can be administered to neonates and infants during the first RSV season and “when there is a risk of RSV infection in the community”according to the EMA press release.
“This monoclonal antibody is an important advance, because it is the first to be used in all children in the world”rejoices Manuel Ferreira Magalhães, Portuguese pediatrician, in the columns of CNN Portugal.
The drug, which in a way provides the patient with “external immunity”, also has the advantage of being single-dose.