RX Review: Expanding options and addressing gaps in RSV prevention

As the field of RSV prevention continues to grow, pediatricians face both new opportunities and new challenges. From emerging immunoprophylaxis strategies to gaps in clinician and parent education, effective RSV management requires staying ahead of a changing landscape. In this second installment of the HCP Live Network RX Review roundtable on RSV, moderator Albert Rizzo, MD, chief medical officer of the American Lung Association, continues the conversation with leading pediatric experts Tina Tan, MD, and Joanne Nazif, MD.

This episode focused on the most pressing unmet needs in RSV prevention and the clinical impact of newly approved options. Tan highlighted a key issue from the initial rollout of nirsevimab: supply limitations. The shortage of one dosage formulation left many infants unprotected during the first season of availability, underscoring the critical need for adequate distribution and planning. Although this issue has improved, it remains a central lesson as clinicians prepare for future seasons.

Nazif discussed the recent FDA approval of clesrovimab, another monoclonal antibody for the prevention of RSV lower respiratory tract disease in infants. She emphasized that having an additional preventive product not only boosts supply security but may also offer advantages in the event of viral mutation or differences in patient needs. She also notes the convenience of non-weight-based dosing as a practical clinical improvement.

The panel explored ongoing gaps in clinician education, particularly around the indications for maternal RSV vaccination and the appropriate use of monoclonal antibodies in term infants. Tan underscored the importance of ensuring that frontline providers are equipped with clear guidance and up-to-date information on these tools, especially as prevention becomes a key pillar of RSV management.

Finally, the discussion turned to vaccine hesitancy. Nazif stressed the clinician’s role in parent education, explaining the safety, development process, and mechanisms of RSV preventive options, including the distinction between active and passive immunization. Building parental trust, she noted, is essential for widespread adoption.

With multiple tools now available, this episode highlights the next steps needed to ensure that innovation translates into access and protection for every child at risk.

Our Panelists:

Tina Tan, MD, is a professor of pediatrics at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University and an infectious disease physician. She is also medical director of the International Patient and Destination Services Program, president of the Lurie medical dental staff at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and president of the Infectious Disease Society of America.

Albert Rizzo, MD, is chief medical officer of the American Lung Association. Board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine, Rizzo serves as the moderator for this panel discussion.

Joanne Nazif, MD, is an attending physician in the division of Hospital Medicine at Children's Hospital at Montefiore. She also serves as an associate professor of pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Rizzo, Tan, and Nazif report no relevant disclosures.

Reference

U.S. FDA Approves Merck’s ENFLONSIA™ (clesrovimab-cfor) for Prevention of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Lower Respiratory Tract Disease in Infants Born During or Entering Their First RSV Season. News release. Merck. June 9, 2025. Accessed June 17, 2025. https://www.merck.com/news/u-s-fda-approves-mercks-enflonsia-clesrovimab-cfor-for-prevention-of-respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-lower-respiratory-tract-disease-in-infants-born-during-or-entering-their-fir/