RSV Clinical Trials & Studies

RSV clinical trials are research studies where researchers, volunteers and pharmaceutical companies come together and collaborate for controlled testing of innovative RSV treatment and prevention options.  

Interested and eligible volunteers are recruited via a highly selective and controlled screening process. All RSV clinical trial participants are educated about the possible risks and outcomes of the clinical trial, and can opt out at any time. 

RSV infections usually only present with mild cold-like symptoms. However, infants, children and adults over the age of 60 are at a higher risk of severe disease.¹ Nearly every child will get RSV by the time they are 2 years old, and it remains a leading cause of hospitalization in babies.^2,3 Studies show that hospitalization rates are higher for the elderly infected with RSV who also have existing respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD.¹  

Currently, RSV management options are limited to supportive care, such as oxygen therapy.¹ 

Clinical trials are therefore important to test new vaccines and immunizations to help defend at-risk groups like infants and older adults against RSV infection. 

Researchers are investigating different avenues of prevention and treatment. The main pillars of RSV clinical trials include vaccine development, monoclonal antibodies and antiviral drugs.  

• Vaccines: these include mRNA and protein-based vaccines.⁶ 
• Monoclonal antibodies: these target the F-protein (fusion protein) used by the virus to infect a host.⁷
• Antiviral drugs: these work by disrupting the life cycle of RSV.⁴

Here at Sanofi, we are committed to R&D efforts into RSV disease prevention in adults and children.⁸