Meta-analysis of the efficacy of palivizumab versus nirsevimab at preventing medically attended respiratory syncytial virus infections in non-hospitalized preterm infants.
John Fullarton, Bosco Paes, Nicola Waghorne et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed prophylaxis against medically attended, non-hospitalized respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections (MARI) and RSV-related hospitalization in healthy infants born at ≤35 weeks’ gestational age. A meta-analysis of three randomized, placebo-controlled studies (N = 2,464) found that palivizumab reduced MARI by 70.5% compared with placebo among infants born at 29–35 weeks’ gestational age. The authors reported broadly similar efficacy to nirsevimab.
Key findings
- Across three studies (N = 2,464), palivizumab reduced MARI by 70.5% versus placebo in infants born at 29–35 weeks’ gestational age.
- The review reported broadly similar efficacy for palivizumab and nirsevimab.
Why it matters
The analysis addresses prevention of medically attended RSV illness outside hospital, an outcome for which the abstract notes that palivizumab data are limited. Its findings provide comparative evidence on two prophylactic interventions in healthy preterm infants, while the reported similarity should be interpreted in light of the evidence base described.
What to keep in mind
The meta-analysis included only three studies, and the abstract does not provide a direct head-to-head comparison or detailed estimates for nirsevimab.