The RSV prophylaxis market is expected to expand rapidly over the next 10 years, triggered by the anticipated launches of nirsevimab and various vaccine approaches from the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons, respectively. The RSV pipeline remains active with vaccines being developed for the three major risk groups, namely the elderly, infants, and pregnant women (to protect infants via passive transfer of neutralizing antibodies across the placenta). 
 
AstraZeneca and Sobi’s monoclonal antibody Synagis (palivizumab) is currently the only marketed preventive agent in the RSV space and generates blockbuster sales. Notably, the use of Synagis is severely restricted to niche risk groups in infants because pivotal trial data showed only moderate efficacy against RSV hospitalization in patients with chronic lung disease or congenital heart disease, as well as by its very high cost per dose. With no competition in the near term, and no biosimilars likely to enter clinical development, Synagis’s sales are expected to remain stable through the 2022/23 season, after which the anticipated approval of AstraZeneca/Sanofi’s next-generation antibody nirsevimab threatens to render Synagis redundant. 

This Datamonitor Healthcare report contains a Disease Analysis module.