A group of Senate Democrats is pressing drug companies for answers about a nationwide shortage of a new injection that prevents respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants. |
© National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH via AP |
In a letter led by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) sent Friday, the lawmakers asked manufacturers AstraZeneca and Sanofi for more information about the current supply of nirsevimab, when the companies first became aware of the shortage, and why they were so unprepared for the demand.
“As our nation braces for the 2023-2024 RSV season, we are concerned that health care providers and families are having difficulty accessing this new immunization product that can be used to prevent severe RSV infections in infants,” the senators wrote.
The letter comes the day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was expediting the release of an additional 77,000 doses, though the additional supplies likely won’t be enough to meet demand.
Nirsevimab, marketed as Beyfortus, is a monoclonal antibody rather than a traditional vaccine, meaning babies will be able to directly receive antibodies to prevent severe RSV, rather than prompting the immune system to develop them.
The drug is one of two available treatments in the U.S. that can protect infants from RSV, which is the leading cause of hospitalization among babies nationwide. It cuts the risk of hospitalizations in infants by about 80 percent and was hailed as a game changer.
But shortages of Beyfortus have been plaguing the country since it was approved earlier this year. Pediatricians and hospitals have been struggling to stock the immunization due to what Sanofi said was “unprecedented” demand.
A representative from Sanofi told the American Academy of Pediatrics earlier this month that demand for the 100-milligram (mg) doses, for infants who weigh more than 11 pounds, exceeded the supply meant for the entire season within weeks of shipping. |
Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, I’m Nathaniel Weixel — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. |
