RSV prophylaxis: Palivizumab, nirsevimab, and more

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) illness is an extremely common cause of hospitalization in children in the United States and globally. An estimated 90% of children will be infected by 2 years of age, leading to over 3 million hospitalizations annually worldwide.¹ Therefore, effective prevention would greatly ease this burden on patients, their families, and health care systems. Current prevention strategies include 2 injectables for infants and young children, namely palivizumab (Synagis; Swedish Orphan Biovitrum) and nirsevimab (Beyfortus; Sanofi). Other vaccines, Abrysvo (Pfizer) and Arexvy (GSK), have been approved, both for older people, with Abrysvo having the additional indication for use in pregnant women. All of these therapies will be discussed in this article.