India, June 26 -- A federal vaccine advisory panel on Thursday backed the use of a new monoclonal antibody, clesrovimab, to protect infants from respiratory syncytial virus.
In a 5-2 vote, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended clesrovimab, developed by Merck, for babies up to eight months old whose mothers did not receive an RSV vaccine during pregnancy.
The panel also voted unanimously to update the federal Vaccines for Children program to include clesrovimab, which will help ensure free or low-cost access for about half of U.S. children. Clesrovimab provides passive immunity by mimicking antibodies produced during infection, without directly stimulating the immune system like a traditional vaccine. It is als...