Palivizumab: where to from here?

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of respiratory tract infections. In severely immunosuppressed patients RSV can cause significant morbidity and mortality. The only FDA-approved drug for RSV is aerosolized ribavirin. Given the high morbidity and mortality in high-risk populations and inconsistent results with aerosolized ribavirin, new strategies for prevention and treatment of RSV are being sought. Palivizumab is an RSV-specific monoclonal antibody. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study showed significant reduction in hospitalization rates among children at high risk of RSV infection who had been given prophylactic palivizumab; these findings led to palivizumab's approval by the FDA in June 1998. Palivizumab also has a role in prevention of severe respiratory tract infections in high-risk infants. In immunocompromised patients, palivizumab has an excellent safety profile and may be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of RSV infections; however, clinical trials are needed to determine its effectiveness. In this article, we review the role of palivizumab in prevention and treatment of RSV infections in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients.

• Authors: Georgiana Georgescu, Roy F Chemaly
• Journal: Expert opinion on biological therapy (Expert Opin Biol Ther) Vol. 9 Issue 1 Pg. 139-47 (Jan 2009) ISSN: 1744-7682 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19063700 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Antiviral Agents
• Palivizumab

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Immunocompromised Host
• Palivizumab
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections (drug therapy, prevention & control)