Infants have another shot at fighting RSV

Starting a new week with another option to protect infants from RSV and BIO’s MOU with Vietnam’s state pharma company. (513 words, 2 minutes, 33 seconds)

Infants have another shot at fighting RSV

Pfizer’s vaccine for pregnant mothers to protect infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the second recommended RSV immunization for newborns.

The news: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 11-1 to recommend one dose of Pfizer’s Abrysvo vaccine in weeks 32-36 of pregnancy “to maximize protection for babies after birth.”  

Why it matters: While often causing mild illness in healthy adults, RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization among U.S. infants. RSV surged last fall and winter, threatening a “tripledemic” with COVID and flu.

More options for infants: CDC recommended Beyfortus, AstraZeneca’s monoclonal antibody (mAb), to protect newborns against RSV last month. Now, CDC recommends either Beyfortus or Pfizer’s vaccine; babies born less than two weeks after their mother received the vaccine can also get the mAb as gap protection.

The year of RSV: Before 2023, there was no approved RSV immunization. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Beyfortus and Abrysvo for infants this summer, and Abrysvo and GSK’s Arexvy for older adults in May.

Get your shots! With an anticipated spike in flu and COVID cases rising, the CDC says we should prepare for the fall-winter respiratory illness season with flu and updated COVID-19 vaccines, and RSV immunization for those eligible.

BIO and Vietnam’s state pharma company sign MoU to boost cooperation

On Friday, BIO and Vietnam’s state-run pharma company VinaPharm signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate on improving Vietnam’s ecosystem for biopharmaceutical innovation.

The signing, in New York with VinaPharm and Vietnam’s State Capital Investment Corporation, was witnessed by Vietnam’s delegation to the 78th UN General Assembly, including Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Edelman Global Advisory (EGA) will provide technical support in implementing the MoU.

The agreement will include Vinapharm participation in projects with BIO and EGA, and coordinate collaboration of Vietnam’s industry in global biopharmaceutical production and research.

Why it matters: “Vietnam’s pharmaceutical market was valued at around $10 billion in 2020, compared to $5 billion in 2015,” says a report. Projected revenue for the industry in 2023 is $7.2 billion, according to VinaPharm.

What it means for BIO: Vietnam sent its first-ever delegation to the BIO International Convention in Boston in June. Delegates presented LiveSpo’s unique spore probiotics in nasal spray form and explored partnering opportunities with BIO members.

BIO’s view: “We warmly welcome this opportunity to support Vietnam as it develops a policy environment that will support its emerging biopharmaceutical industry,” said Nancy Travis, BIO VP for International Affairs, who attended the signing. “Biotech innovation is made possible by collaborations among researchers, scientists, and companies around the world. We are so pleased to see Vietnam joining this community.”

President Biden’s Monday: Hosting the Pacific Islands Forum today and tomorrow. An agreement to establish diplomatic ties with the Pacific Island countries of Cook Islands and Niue is expected today, PBS reports.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: Capitol Hill is focused on funding the government. House Republicans seek a deal on spending before Saturday’s deadline while Senate leadership preps their own stopgap package. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court begins its new term next Monday, and mifepristone and gender-affirming care could be on the docket, reports Axios.