Merck’s RSV antibody treatment for infants is approved by FDA
The simplicity of Merck's monoclonal antibody for RSV in infants could be a plus in its competition with AstraZeneca's existing treatment.
A third monoclonal antibody product to protect babies against respiratory syncytial virus was approved by the Food and Drug Administration on Monday, a development public health experts hope may eventually help to bring down the price of this effective but costly way of reducing the crushing burden of RSV illness on families and the health care system.
Merck’s clesrovimab, which will be marketed under the name Enflonsia, was approved for use in children under the age of 12 months. The wholesale price for Enflonsia has been set at $556 a dose, Merck said, which is the same price charged for its major competitor, Sanofi and AstraZeneca’s Beyfortus (nirsevimab).
