Harish Nair
Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Global Health at University of Edinburgh (UEDIN),
RESCEU Project Scientific Coordinator
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of respiratory infections in children under five accounting for over one-third of lower respiratory infections.
Globally, RSV causes about 33 million lower respiratory tract infections during early childhood annually and one in 10 RSV cases is hospitalised. RSV is a leading cause of child deaths (with over 120,000 child deaths) worldwide, most of these in the first year of life and in developing countries.
Pressure on health services
In the UK and other developed countries, RSV is the leading cause of hospitalisation, most of which are in infants otherwise healthy and born at term. During the winter months, paediatric respiratory wards are teeming with children with bronchiolitis and these pressures on the healthcare system have an impact on care for other conditions.
In the absence of specific testing for RSV, it is impossible to distinguish RSV infection from the flu.
Recent studies have shown that RSV infections are as common as influenza in the elderly and are likely to result in a similar number of hospitalisations and deaths each year. In the absence of specific testing for RSV, it is impossible to distinguish RSV infection from the flu.
Preventative solutions needed
There is currently no treatment or preventative option to protect all infants, children and elderly from RSV. With the recognition of RSV as a global health priority over the last decade, including by the WHO, there has been a major push for developing preventative solutions against the virus.
There are currently seven products in phase III clinical trials. Recent data suggest that immunisation against RSV not only protects the infant against the virus but also against other respiratory infections.
New research into RSV
The RSV Consortium in Europe (RESCEU) funded by the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) has been conducting clinical studies and gathering evidence to inform decision-making by WHO, European Medicines Agency and national immunisation technical advisory groups.
A two-year study involving 1,040 participants across Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK showed the incidence of RSV infection was about 5.6% in home-dwelling older adults (varying between 4% in one year and 7% in the next). There are ongoing studies to understand the incidence of RSV infection in infants and identify biomarkers for severe RSV infection and longer-term consequences of RSV.
The work started by RESCEU will now be taken forward by a follow-up IMI project (Preparing for RSV Immunisation and Surveillance in Europe – PROMISE). With clinical societies and patient groups, PROMISE will help us to understand patient perspectives to prepare the ground for introduction of options for RSV prevention in the next five years.
This project has received funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking under grant agreement Nº 116019. This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and EFPIA. The article reflects only the author’s view. The JU is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
