U.S. drug regulators have approved a drug aimed at preventing a respiratory disease in babies and toddlers.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 17 cleared Beyfortus, a monoclonal antibody that prevents respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a lower respiratory tract disease.
Children up to 24 months of age can now receive the drug, which showed efficacy in several clinical trials.
“RSV can cause serious disease in infants and some children and results in a large number of emergency department and physician office visits each year,” Dr. John Farley, director of the FDA’s Office of Infectious Diseases, said in a statement. “Today’s approval addresses the great need for products to help reduce the impact of RSV disease on children, families and the health care system.”…