Drug to help prevent serious RSV illness in babies approved by Health Canada – CBC
By age 2, most babies in Canada get RSV, which can be mild or cause bronchiolitis and pneumonia
Apr 24, 2023
Health Canada has approved a new antibody drug to help protect babies from serious illness caused by respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
Nirsevimab, also known by its brand name Beyfortus, was authorized on April 19. It was developed by AstraZeneca and Sanofi.
Nirsevimab is “a monoclonal antibody to prevent serious lower respiratory tract disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in newborns and infants during their first RSV season,” Health Canada spokesman Mark Johnson said in an email to The Canadian Press on Friday.
The drug, which is given by injection, is also authorized for children up to two years of age if they are at risk of serious infection, he said.
Monoclonal antibodies are made in a laboratory to mimic natural antibodies to prevent or treat diseases.
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/rsv-antibody-drug-babies-1.6820907
