BOSTON, MA, October 11, 2008 – MedImmune announced today it will present four abstracts at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2008 National Conference & Exhibition that add to the company's growing body of research into the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a leading cause of viral respiratory infection among preterm infants.
"As we gain data that further demonstrate the burden of RSV disease on preterm babies, the benefits of preventive care become more evident," said Jessie R. Groothius, M.D., vice president, medical and scientific affairs, infectious disease. "We look forward to presenting studies that demonstrate the importance of better identifying and helping to protect preterm infants from of RSV."
MedImmune abstracts to be presented at AAP include:
- Increased Burden from Late-Preterm Births During the First Year of Life – Kimmie K. McLaurin, MS, Saturday, October 11, 2008, from 10:20 - 10:30 a.m.
BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that late-preterm infants (between 33 and 35 weeks gestation) are associated with higher medical costs and greater morbidity than full-term infants during and shortly after birth. The effects of late-preterm births beyond this period, however, are unknown. This retrospective cohort study examined the use of medical resources by late-preterm and full-term infants through their first year of life to determine whether differences in medical costs exist.
- A Multi-Center Prospective Study of the Occurrence and Burden of RSV-Associated Illness in the Emergency Department: September-October 2006 and 2007(Poster #927) – Aleta B. Bonner, MD, Friday, October 10, 2008, from 2:45 p.m.
BACKGROUND: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, RSV activity is considered widespread in a community when greater than 10-percent of all specimens tested by antigen detection for RSV are positive. Traditionally, widespread activity has been defined as occurring between November and March, yet there is growing evidence that RSV outbreaks vary by geographic region and from year to year. This prospective, multi-center surveillance study examined data recorded in the high-volume outpatient setting of hospital emergency departments (in contrast to hospital inpatient data typically used to demonstrate the burden of RSV-associated illness) to analyze RSV activity in September and October over two consecutive years.
- Identifying Residual Risk of Severe RSV Disease Among Unprophylaxed Preterm Infants (Poster #36) Doris Makari, MD, Friday, October 10, 2008, from 6:00 - 6:30 p.m.
BACKGROUND: The majority of preterm infants are born between 32 and 35 weeks gestation; RSV prophylaxis with Synagis® (palivizumab) has resulted in significant reductions in RSV-associated hospitalizations (RSVH) among this population. The use of Synagis has been restricted, however, due to cost concerns associated with prophylaxis. This retrospective cohort study examined whether risk factors outside of current AAP Red Book guidelines - young chronological age, smoking and overcrowding - could identify a subset population of infants born between 32 and 35 weeks gestation that may be at high risk for RSVH, but not currently recommended for prophylaxis under the AAP guidelines.
- Cost Implications of Expanding Risk Factors for RSV Prophylaxis with Palivizumab for Infants 32-35 Weeks Gestation (Poster #29) – Leonard Krilov, MD, Friday, October 10, 2008 from 6:00 - 6:30 p.m.
BACKGROUND: AAP Red Book guidelines recommend RSV prophylaxis with Synagis for infants born between 32 and 35 weeks gestation with two or more of five risk factors: school-aged siblings, childcare attendance, severe neuromuscular disease, congenital airway abnormality, and exposure to environmental air pollutants (except smoking). Adding select risk factors may help identify a new subset of infants between 32 and 35 weeks gestation at high risk for RSV hospitalization, yet the impact on cost to include those risk factors is not clear. This study examined the cost implications of increasing current risk factor criteria.
Source: Edelman Public Relations