Vaccine to combat RSV ‘within seven years’

Monday July 10th, 2017

A vaccine to prevent respiratory syncytial virus infection could be available within seven years - but is needed sooner, according to new analysis.

About three million children are admitted to hospital each year with the infection. Almost half of the global cases recorded in just five countries: India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and Indonesia, according to the analysis conducted at Edinburgh University, UK.

More than 115,000 youngsters under the age of five die every year from complications associated with the infection. Almost half of those who die in hospital are under six months old and more than 99 per cent of deaths occur in developing countries.

A study conducted by the RSV Global Epidemiology Network, with a team led by the University of Edinburgh, says its findings highlight the pressing need for affordable treatments and vaccines as a priority.

Writing in The Lancet, they describe analysing data from 329 studies of RSV infections worldwide, they estimate that there are more than 33 million cases of RSV infection in children under five each year worldwide, 10% of whom are admitted to hospital.

Professor Harish Nair, of the University of Edinburgh's Usher Institute, lead researcher said: "We are at an opportune time to step up efforts to prevent RSV infection in young children. With more than 60 candidate vaccines in clinical development, it is likely that an RSV vaccine will be available in the next five to seven years.

“Our findings will provide better evidence to inform global funding priorities to accelerate vaccine development. It will assist policy makers and experts prepare for early introduction of this vaccine in developing countries."

Professor Nair is co-ordinating a 29 million Euros grant to establish the RSV Consortium in Europe (RESCEU), which aims to address several of the research gaps highlighted in this study.

Tags: Africa | Asia | Flu & Viruses | Respiratory | UK News

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