SK and Sanofi Begin Supplying RSV Antibody Injections
for Infants and Newborns in Korea
An 8-month-old infant is receiving an RSV antibody injection (Beyfortus) at a hospital in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by SK Bioscience
The administration of RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) preventive antibody injections, available for all newborns and infants under 12 months of age, has begun domestically. The highly contagious RSV, which infects 90% of children under 2 years old, can now be prevented nationwide at hospitals and clinics.
SK Bioscience announced on the 14th that it has started supplying the RSV preventive antibody injection 'Beyfortus®' in Korea in partnership with the Korean branch of the global healthcare company Sanofi.
Beyfortus® is the only RSV preventive antibody injection available for all newborns and infants under 12 months of age, providing protection for at least five months, allowing for prevention of the entire RSV season with a single dose. Newborns and infants experiencing their first RSV season (October to March), as well as children under 24 months at high risk of severe RSV disease during their second RSV season, can receive Beyfortus® at major hospitals and clinics nationwide.
RSV commonly causes respiratory infections including lower respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants and young children, and is one of the leading causes of hospitalization in this age group. Globally, 90% of infants are infected with RSV before the age of two, and earlier infection is associated with longer recovery times and a higher risk of developing asthma, emphasizing the importance of prevention and early treatment.
Since its first approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2022, Beyfortus® has been authorized in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries, and has been incorporated into various national immunization programs. In the U.S., it is provided free of charge to eligible infants through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) evaluated its effectiveness at preventing RSV-related hospitalizations at 90% as of March last year. In Galicia, Spain, Beyfortus® was introduced into the national immunization program at the end of September 2023, resulting in an 82% reduction in hospitalizations for RSV lower respiratory tract infections among infants over the following three months.
Shin Bong-sik, President of the Korean Association of Obstetric Hospitals, stated, "The launch of this RSV antibody injection is an important first step in protecting infants and high-risk groups, and we actively welcome it. We encourage parents to participate in vaccination for their children's health." He added, "RSV can have serious effects on newborns, so prevention is paramount, and the introduction of a national immunization program is necessary for more effective RSV prevention."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
