CDC expedites release of Sanofi, AstraZeneca drug amid shortage

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expedited the discharge of greater than 77,000 additional doses of a latest drug designed to guard infants from respiratory syncytial virus amid an ongoing shortage of the treatment within the U.S.

The CDC’s move late Thursday to extend the supply of Beyfortus, a monoclonal antibody from Sanofi and AstraZeneca that won approval in August, comes as RSV cases rise in some parts of the country ahead of the vacation season. The drug is certainly one of two available treatments within the U.S. that may protect infants from the virus, which is the leading reason for hospitalization amongst babies nationwide. 

Sanofi and AstraZeneca didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment on the CDC’s announcement.

Hospitals and pediatricians have been struggling to stock Beyfortus attributable to what Sanofi has described as “unprecedented demand” for the treatment. The shortage – and other issues related to insurance coverage – threatens to forestall infants from receiving critical protection against RSV. 

RSV is a standard respiratory infection that typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms, but can present as more severe cases in children and older adults.

Every year, the virus kills a number of hundred children younger than 5, and 6,000 to 10,000 seniors, based on the CDC. RSV also causes around 58,000 to 80,000 hospitalizations amongst children younger than 5 years old annually, the CDC said.

The CDC said the extra doses might be distributed immediately to physicians and hospitals through business channels and the Vaccines for Children Program, which covers the associated fee of the shots for uninsured and underinsured kids. 

CDC said the agency, together with the Food and Drug Administration, will proceed to be in close contact with the drug manufacturers to make sure availability of additional doses through the tip of this yr and early 2024 to fulfill demand.

“CDC and FDA are committed to expanding access to this essential immunization in order that more parents have peace of mind through the winter virus season,” said the CDC’s principal deputy director, Dr. Nirav Shah, in an announcement. 

The U.S. began to see a pointy uptick in RSV cases in the course of October. Nearly 5,000 cases were detected through testing within the U.S. within the week ended Nov. 4, the very best level since last winter, based on the CDC website. 

The U.S. suffered an unusually severe RSV season last yr. Cases of the virus in children and older adults overwhelmed hospitals across the country, largely because the general public stopped practicing Covid pandemic health measures that had helped to maintain the spread of RSV low.