Sanofi and AstraZeneca plan on releasing 230,000 additional doses of nirsevimab-alip in January 2024
The unprecedented demand for nirsevimab-alip has resulted in a dramatic uptake in production of this RSV vaccine.
Doctor vaccinating baby in clinic: © Marina Demidiuk - stock.adobe.com
Yesterday, Sanofi, manufacturers of the RSV vaccine nirsevimab-alip (Beyfortus; Sanofi) announced additional dosages of this vaccine would be made available for the United States in January 2024. Sanofi's partnership with the CDC and FDA to deliver doses of this injection has resulted in an additional 77,000 doses being made available now, with 230,000 more doses (made up of 50mg and 100mg) in January.1
The increased production will bring the current RSV season to an immunization rate of nearly 40%, resulting in protection of 1.4 million babies against RSV (a nearly 30% increase over the initial supply forecast for this season).1
In a press release sent yesterday, Sanofi said, "Since early October, we have been working closely with the CDC and Food and Drug Administration to deliver additional doses this season and holding weekly touchpoints since November. We have also welcomed engagement with the CDC, the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response (OPPR) and other Health and Human Services and White House officials through regular meetings."
Sanofi acknowledges that the demand for nirsevimab-alip has been unprecedented.
Yesterday, the CDC put out a health advisory titled, "Need to Increase immunization coverage for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV and use of authorized/approved therapeutics in the setting of increased respiratory disease activity during the 2023 – 2024 winter season noting, "in the past 4 weeks, hospitalizations among all age groups increased by 60% for RSV. Providers should leverage all available tools to increase immunizations against influenza, COVID-19, and RSV."2
References
1. Sanofi Beyfortus (nirsevimab-alip) injection update. News release. Sanofi; December 14, 2023. Accessed December 15, 2023. https://www.news.sanofi.us/2023-12-14-Sanofi-Beyfortus-TM-nirsevimab-alip-Injection-Update
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Urgent need to increase immunization coverage for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV and use of authorized/approved therapeutics in the setting of increased respiratory disease activity during the 2023 – 2024 winter season. December 14, 2023. Accessed December 15, 2023. https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/2023/han00503.asp
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