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Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common seasonal virus that infects most babies in their first few years of life. It usually causes a mild cold-like illness, but for some babies it can lead to more severe lung problems such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia and is a leading cause of hospitalisations in babies (mostly in otherwise healthy babies).
The HARMONIE research study is looking at whether and to what extent babies can be protected from serious illness due to RSV infection by giving them a single antibody dose prophylactically.
The antibody was developed by Sanofi and AstraZeneca and some early studies have been published looking at the level of protection provided. The aim of the HARMONIE study is to further assess the impact on hospitalisations due to RSV, with more babies involved. Please note that this is at launch stage – there are no data/results yet.
Journalists dialled in to this briefing to hear from the scientists running the trial about how it will work, what is involved and what makes it different from other trials.
Speakers included:
Prof Saul Faust, Professor of Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Southampton
Dr Simon Drysdale, Consultant Paediatrician in Infectious Diseases, St George’s University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust