Sanofi seeing 'unprecedented' demand for RSV therapy

[October 21, 2023]  (Reuters) - French drugmaker Sanofi said on Friday it was seeing an "unprecedented level" of demand for an antibody therapy it co-developed to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a leading cause of hospitalizations in infants.

The therapy, branded Beyfortus and jointly developed by Sanofi and AstraZeneca, was approved in July to prevent RSV in infants and toddlers.

Before the approval of Sanofi's drug, Swedish Orphan Biovitrum's treatment, Synagis, was the only approved preventive therapy in the United States for high-risk infants.

Around 1% to 3% of children under 12 months of age in the country are hospitalized each year due to RSV, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Sanofi said it is working with AstraZeneca to identify further solutions to meet surging demand.

The logo of French drugmaker Sanofi is seen a the Sanofi Genzyme Polyclonals in Lyon, France, September 30, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo

(Reporting by Mariam Sunny and Khushi Mandowara in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath and William Mallard)

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