Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Pfizer Says Its Maternal RSV Vaccine Protects Infants Post-Birth
Pfizer announced Tuesday that its maternal RSV vaccine, given during pregnancy, protected infants from developing severe symptoms during the first six months after birth 鈥 a critical window of vulnerability. The company plans to apply for approval of the vaccine before year鈥檚 end, with the hope that the shot could be the first vaccine to help protect infants against RSV 鈥 respiratory syncytial virus 鈥 as soon as next winter. (Johnson, 11/1)
There鈥檚 also hope around a promising long-acting injection designed to be given right after birth to protect infants from the virus for as long as six months. In a recent clinical trial, the antibody shot was 75% effective at heading off RSV infections that required medical attention. Experts say the therapies look so promising, they could end bad RSV seasons as we know them. And the relief could come soon: Dr. Ashish Jha, who leads the White House Covid-19 Response Task Force, told CNN that he鈥檚 鈥渉opeful鈥 there will be an RSV vaccine by next fall. (Goodman, 10/31)
The increase in RSV cases casts attention on a handful of drugmakers with vaccines and therapies in development, but the first ones likely to become available will be for the elderly and pregnant people. Pfizer has said it plans to file an application to the FDA in the fall, and GSK expects to file for approvals by the end of the year. But RSV vaccines for children are unlikely to be available in the near term. (Gardner and Foley, 10/31)
In other pediatric health news 鈥
Physicians who treat children with acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, had been steeling themselves this fall for an onslaught of cases. (Branswell, 10/31)
On pneumonia vaccines 鈥
Rival drugmakers are seeking to upend Pfizer Inc.鈥檚 dominance of the $7 billion worldwide market for pneumonia vaccines, launching what is shaping up to be one of the industry鈥檚 fiercest battles. Merck & Co. has already introduced a new competitor to Pfizer鈥檚 Prevnar vaccine franchise, while GSK PLC and Vaxcyte Inc. are among companies developing shots that aim to win sales by protecting against even more strains of the pneumonia virus. (Hopkins, 10/31)
