Sanofi’s Beyfortus is part of recent treatments which for the first time hold the promise of immunizing many people against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the one which is responsible – in the majority of cases – for the respiratory problems of bronchiolitis. Two studies published this Friday, April 26 by Public Health France in conjunction with the Pasteur Institute confirm its effectiveness: this treatment made it possible to avoid several thousand hospitalizations.
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Unlike a vaccine, Beyfortus does not cause the body to develop its own anti-RSV antibodies; it is these antibodies that are injected directly into the patient.
It was massively tested this winter in several countries including France. France is one of the countries which launched a vast baby immunization campaign last fall, with more than 200,000 doses administered. The demand from parents was such that pharmacy delivery had to be stopped after a few days to favor maternity wards.
Confirmation
While recent Luxembourg, Spanish and American analyzes had already pointed to a clear reduction in the risk of hospitalization of babies thanks to Beyfortus, two French studies confirm this.
The first, a model, allows us to estimate that 5,800 hospitalizations for bronchiolitis, after going to the emergency room, were avoided between mid-September 2023 and the end of January 2024: a reduction of 23% in young children and even of 35%. % in infants 0 to 2 months.
“ In real life »
The second study, carried out “ in real life » although on a reduced sample of 300 babies, concludes that the risk for a hospitalized infant of having to be admitted to intensive care is reduced by around 80% for infants who received the treatment. Beyond the issue for patients, these results are good news for hospital pediatric services, which are always saturated during the winter period.
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