Beyfortus Demonstrates Efficacy in Preventing Severe Bronchiolitis Infections
A comprehensive analysis confirms the effectiveness of Beyfortus in reducing hospitalization rates for infants with bronchiolitis.
Bronchiolitis, typically a mild infection, can lead to significant respiratory difficulties in infants, particularly during the first six months of life, occasionally resulting in emergency department visits and hospitalizations.
A recent meta-analysis published on May 2, 2025, reinforces the efficacy of Beyfortus, a preventive treatment designed to immunize infants against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the primary cause of bronchiolitis.
Previous national studies had indicated that Beyfortus effectively reduced hospitalizations among infants; however, this new analysis, featured in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, provides a more robust overview of the current understanding of the treatment's effects.
The ongoing threat of RSV makes the findings particularly relevant.
Beyfortus, known chemically as nirsevimab, is part of a series of innovative treatments aimed at preventing or limiting infections caused by the virus responsible for bronchiolitis.
Although injectable, it is classified as a preventive therapy rather than a vaccine, designed to preclude the virus from infecting the body.
Following successful clinical trials, the monoclonal antibody was approved by several regulatory agencies in 2023 and has since been made available in select high-income countries.
According to the meta-analysis, which examined data from 27 studies conducted during the 2023-2024 RSV season across five countries (France, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and the United States), nirsevimab reduces the risk of hospitalization due to bronchiolitis infections by an average of 83%.
Additionally, the treatment lowers the chances of intensive care admissions by 81% and instances of lower respiratory infections by 75% among children aged 12 months and younger.
The effectiveness of nirsevimab appears slightly higher in infants over three months old (81%) compared to those aged three months or less (76%).
However, the reduction in hospitalizations related to bronchiolitis exhibited variation across countries, with the most significant declines seen in the United States (93%), followed by Spain (83%) and France (76%).
Research suggests that the higher effectiveness observed in the U.S. could be linked to a greater proportion of high-risk infants receiving the treatment there, as this demographic was prioritized during the 2023-2024 bronchiolitis season due to limited supply of Beyfortus.
Further studies are needed to investigate this hypothesis.
The authors of the meta-analysis acknowledged certain limitations, noting that the included studies were observational.
This methodology can introduce biases due to underlying health issues, socioeconomic status, or regional disparities in healthcare access.
A recent meta-analysis published on May 2, 2025, reinforces the efficacy of Beyfortus, a preventive treatment designed to immunize infants against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the primary cause of bronchiolitis.
Previous national studies had indicated that Beyfortus effectively reduced hospitalizations among infants; however, this new analysis, featured in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, provides a more robust overview of the current understanding of the treatment's effects.
The ongoing threat of RSV makes the findings particularly relevant.
Beyfortus, known chemically as nirsevimab, is part of a series of innovative treatments aimed at preventing or limiting infections caused by the virus responsible for bronchiolitis.
Although injectable, it is classified as a preventive therapy rather than a vaccine, designed to preclude the virus from infecting the body.
Following successful clinical trials, the monoclonal antibody was approved by several regulatory agencies in 2023 and has since been made available in select high-income countries.
According to the meta-analysis, which examined data from 27 studies conducted during the 2023-2024 RSV season across five countries (France, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and the United States), nirsevimab reduces the risk of hospitalization due to bronchiolitis infections by an average of 83%.
Additionally, the treatment lowers the chances of intensive care admissions by 81% and instances of lower respiratory infections by 75% among children aged 12 months and younger.
The effectiveness of nirsevimab appears slightly higher in infants over three months old (81%) compared to those aged three months or less (76%).
However, the reduction in hospitalizations related to bronchiolitis exhibited variation across countries, with the most significant declines seen in the United States (93%), followed by Spain (83%) and France (76%).
Research suggests that the higher effectiveness observed in the U.S. could be linked to a greater proportion of high-risk infants receiving the treatment there, as this demographic was prioritized during the 2023-2024 bronchiolitis season due to limited supply of Beyfortus.
Further studies are needed to investigate this hypothesis.
The authors of the meta-analysis acknowledged certain limitations, noting that the included studies were observational.
This methodology can introduce biases due to underlying health issues, socioeconomic status, or regional disparities in healthcare access.
