Pfizer Inc, discovered breakthrough respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine candidate, PF-06928316 or RSVpreF for the treatment of lower respiratory tract illness in infants from birth up to age of six months by active immunisation of pregnant women.
Once approved, the vaccine has the potential as the first maternal immunisation vaccine candidate in protecting infants in their vulnerable first months of life from disease caused by this highly-contagious virus.
After this discovery, Pfizer tested numerous versions of the viral protein, and identified those that elicited a strong anti-viral immune response in pre-clinical evaluation. The vaccine candidate is composed of two preF proteins selected to optimise protection against RSV A and B and is currently being evaluated in ongoing late-stage human trials.
RSV is a contagious virus causing respiratory illness. It mainly affects the lungs and breathing passages of infected individual, resulting in life-threatening for young infants, the immunocompromised, and older adults.
In US, every year approximately 2.1 million outpatient visits and about 58,000 hospitalisations occur among children who are younger than five years old. Moreover, nearly 177,000 hospitalisations and 14,000 deaths are caused due to RVS infections among older patients. Currently, no approved vaccines are in consideration to prevent RSV and the medical community can only only supportive care for those with the illness.
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted breakthrough designation for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine candidate, PF-06928316 or RSVpreF, for prevention of RSV-associated lower respiratory tract illness in infants.
