Who will be the first in the race vaccine against bronchiolitis in people over 60 ? Moderna announced on January 17, 2023 the promising results of its phase 3 trial for its vaccine against RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), responsible for bronchiolitis in the elderly. The trial was conducted double-blind on 37,000 people aged 60 and over in 22 countries, including the United States: this potential messenger RNA vaccine showed a efficiency of almost 84% and was well tolerated by participants.
“Today’s findings represent an important step forward in the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease due to RSV in adults 60 years of age and older. These data are encouraging and represent the second demonstration of positive Phase 3 trial results from our mRNA infectious disease vaccine platform after Spikevax, our COVID-19 vaccine.“said Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, in a communicated.
Today, we announced positive topline data from its ConquerRSV Phase 3 pivotal efficacy trial of mRNA-1345, an investigational #mRNA#vaccinated targeting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in older adults.
— Moderna (@moderna_tx) January 17, 2023
If RSV mainly affects babies, it can indeed affect older people for whom no vaccine is marketed. “Respiratory diseases are a major public health priority because they have a significant health impact and are a major cause of hospitalization“, continues Stéphane Bancel. Each year, 5.2 million cases occur in people over 60 in developed countries and cause more than 500,000 hospitalizations annually. The virus also causes 30,000 deaths in elderly patients living in “rich” countries.
“This disease has a heavy toll that has been underestimated“, told AFP Dr. Paul Burton, medical director of Moderna. It is indeed in lower-income countries “where access to care is limited“that a larger proportion of RSV-related deaths is observed, also underlined Abdullah Baqui, main instigator of the trial.
Moderna hopes to submit its application for regulatory clearance in multiple regions including Europe by mid-2023, followed by a put on the market in winter 2023/24.
Other labs in the race
The fight against RSV has become the mission of several laboratories: in early November, the EU approved a preventive treatment for bronchiolitis developed by AstraZeneca and Sanofi, called Nirsevimab. Intended to be administered as a single injection, it has shown a 74.5% reduction in respiratory tract infections caused by RSV in healthy infants. The first administrations could begin in Europe in the fall of 2023.
But they are not the only ones. The American Pfizer has also announced positive results for a vaccine against bronchiolitis administered… to pregnant women. The goal ? Protect newborns from severe forms of bronchiolitis. The laboratory is also developing an RSV vaccine for people over 60.
Source :
- Moderna announces MRNA-1345, an investigational respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, has met efficacy endpoints in phase 3 trial in older adults, ModernaJanuary 17, 2023
