RSV Study
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs. Its symptoms are similar to those of the common cold, flu, or COVID-19, making it difficult to distinguish RSV from other respiratory infections based on symptoms alone.
In Europe, RSV spreads primarily in the autumn and winter, with infection rates peaking in December and January. While most healthy adults and children experience mild illness, RSV can cause severe disease in certain groups, including:
- Infants younger than six months
- Older adults
- People with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions
Severe RSV infection can lead to bronchiolitis and pneumonia. In fact, RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under 12 months.
PIPELINE-RSV trial
The PIPELINE-RSV trial will investigate two prevention options already licensed and in routine use in many countries. The trial will assess how well they prevent infection from RSV in infants over their first 12 months of life, when used alone or in combination.
Maternal RSV vaccination during pregnancy – A vaccine given to pregnant individuals, which allows protective antibodies to pass to the baby through the placenta, protecting them in their first months of life.
Monoclonal RSV antibody – A single-dose given to newborns that provides immediate protection by delivering antibodies that fight RSV.
An international collaboration
The PIPELINE RSV-International trial, which is sponsored by Penta and funded by the European Union, is recruiting approximately 1,500 pregnant individuals across the UK, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
Running in parallel, the PIPELINE RSV-France study is recruiting an additional 1,000 pregnant individuals in France, sponsored by Centre Hospitalier Annecy Genevois and funded by the French Ministry of Health/ANRS-MIE.
Investigators from both studies are collaborating closely, and the data collected will be combined to ensure the most complete and robust results possible.
