Quebec's INESSS recommends BEYFORTUS® for the prevention of RSV for all infants 8 months of age and younger(1)
- BEYFORTUS® (nirsevimab) is the first long-acting antibody approved in
Canada for the prevention of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract disease in neonates and infants through their first RSV season.i - BEYFORTUS® is also approved for children up to 24 months of age who remain vulnerable to severe RSV disease through their second RSV season.ii
- According to INESSS, increasing demand on emergency services shows the need for all infant protection from RSV.iii
General Manager, Vaccines Canada,
"Parents and physicians who experience the impacts of RSV annually have been waiting for a preventative option that can cover the entire infant population and protect our most vulnerable. I believe every baby deserves to be protected against RSV and this recommendation for BEYFORTUS® marks an important milestone towards achieving that goal in
RSV, a highly contagious virus, can lead to respiratory illness in babies, including lung infections such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.v Approximately 2 out of 3 infants are infected by RSV by their first birthday and almost all infants are infected by the age of 2.vi Infants under 1 year are on average almost 16 times more likely to be hospitalized for RSV than for influenza.vii The majority of RSV hospitalizations occur in infants without risk factors. A recent study showed among infants hospitalized for RSV, 80% were previously healthy and born at term.viii According to INESSS, the increasing demand on emergency services over the past few years and the emergence of new viral strains like COVID-19 demonstrate the need to protect all newborns and infants from RSV.ix Currently, only a small fraction of infants born in
BEYFORTUS® is a single-dose, long-acting antibody designed to help prevent RSV lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) for neonates and infants during their first RSV season. BEYFORTUS® is also indicated for children up to 24 months of age who remain vulnerable to severe RSV disease through their second RSV season. BEYFORTUS® offers timely protection against RSV lower respiratory tract disease lasting at least 5 months, to coincide with the RSV season.
BEYFORTUS® is administered directly to neonates and infants as a single dose and offers rapid protection via an antibody to help prevent LRTD caused by RSV, without requiring activation of the immune system. BEYFORTUS® administration can be timed to the start of the RSV season.
In
In Canada, we employ over 2,000 people. We invest 20% of our revenue annually in biopharma research (representing
In 2024, we are celebrating 110 years of heritage dedicated to developing innovative health solutions for Canadians. What started as a small laboratory in May of 1914, recognized for having advanced some of the greatest contributions to public health, both nationally and globally, has evolved to become the largest biomanufacturing facility in Canada.
______________________________________________ |
1 Per INESSS, newborns and infants whose mothers received a vaccine for RSV prevention, and who were born more than 2 weeks after the administration of the vaccine, are not eligible to receive nirsevimab for the current or upcoming season. |
______________________________________________ |
ii BEYFORTUS® Product Monograph. |
iii Institut national d'excellence en santé et en services sociaux: BEYFORTUSMC: Prévention des infections graves par le virus respiratoire syncytial chez l'enfant. Accessed |
iv Institut national d'excellence en santé et en services sociaux: BEYFORTUSMC: Prévention des infections graves par le virus respiratoire syncytial chez l'enfant. Accessed |
v Public Health Agency of |
vi Simoes EAF. |
vii Demont C et al. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21(1) : 730, |
viii Pisesky et al. PloS one 11.3 (2016): e0150416 |
ix Institut national d'excellence en santé et en services sociaux: BEYFORTUSMC: Prévention des infections graves par le virus respiratoire syncytial chez l'enfant. Accessed |
SOURCE