RSV
RSV is the most common cause of lower respiratory infections, including bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants.1 It is also a leading cause of hospitalisation in all infants.1-5 Globally, in 2019, there were approximately 33 million cases of acute lower respiratory infections leading to more than three million hospitalisations, and it was estimated that there were 26,300 in-hospital deaths of children younger than five years.11 RSV-related direct medical costs, globally – including hospital, outpatient and follow-up care – were estimated at €4.82 billion in 2017.12
Beyfortus (nirsevimab)
Beyfortus is a single dose long-acting antibody, developed and commercialised in partnership by AstraZeneca and Sanofi using AstraZeneca’s YTE technology. It is designed to protect infants entering or during their first RSV season and for children up to 24 months of age who remain vulnerable to severe RSV disease through their second RSV season.
Beyfortus has been developed to offer newborns and infants direct RSV protection via an antibody to help prevent LRTI caused by RSV. Monoclonal antibodies do not require the activation of the immune system to help offer timely, rapid and direct protection against disease.14
Beyfortus has been granted regulatory and other designations to facilitate expedited development by several major regulatory agencies around the world. These include Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the China Center for Drug Evaluation under the National Medical Products Administration; Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration; access granted to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) PRIority Medicines (PRIME) scheme; and named “a medicine for prioritized development” under the Project for Drug Selection to Promote New Drug Development in Pediatrics by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). In November 2022, Beyfortus was approved by the European Commission and by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).15-16
Sanofi Alliance
In March 2017, AstraZeneca and Sanofi announced an agreement to develop and commercialise nirsevimab. Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca leads all development and manufacturing activities, and Sanofi leads commercialisation activities and records revenue. Under the terms of the global agreement, Sanofi made an upfront payment of €120m, has paid a development milestone of €30m and will pay up to a further €465m upon achievement of certain development and sales-related milestones. The two companies share costs and profits. Revenue from the agreement is reported as Collaboration Revenue in the Company’s financial statements.
Sobi agreement
Related, in November 2018, AstraZeneca agreed to sell US commercial rights for Synagis (palivizumab) to Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ) (Sobi) in addition to the right to participate in payments that may be received by AstraZeneca from the US profits or losses for nirsevimab. Under the agreement, AstraZeneca received upfront consideration, non-contingent payments for nirsevimab during 2019-2021, and following the FDA’s acceptance of the Biologics License Application (BLA) filing for nirsevimab, will receive a $175m cash payment. AstraZeneca is also entitled to receive certain other milestone payments for nirsevimab, including a $90m cash payment following the date on which BLA approval in the US occurs. AstraZeneca will continue to manufacture and supply nirsevimab globally and is entitled to an additional royalty from Sobi if profits from nirsevimab in the US exceed a pre-specified level.
Synagis (palivizumab)
Synagis (palivizumab) is an RSV F protein inhibitor monoclonal antibody indicated for the prevention of serious lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in paediatric patients with a history of premature birth (less than or equal to 35 weeks gestational age) and who are 6 months of age or younger at the beginning of the RSV season, with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) that required medical treatment within the previous 6 months and who are 24 months of age or younger at the beginning of the RSV season, or with hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease (CHD) and who are 24 months of age or younger at the beginning of the RSV season.13
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and follow the Company on Twitter @AstraZeneca.