Palivizumab

December 17, 2024 6:45 am ET If approved, clesrovimab has the potential to be available to help address the burden of RSV disease in the U.S. in time for the 2025-26 season RAHWAY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the Biologics License Application (BLA) for clesrovimab (MK-1654), the company’s investigational prophylactic long-acting monoclonal antibody designed to protect infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease during their first RSV season. The FDA has set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), or target action, date of June 10, 2025. “Despite recent advances in RSV prevention, unmet needs remain for additional effective interventions to help protect infants and continue to help address the burden RSV places on families and the healthcare system. This regulatory milestone, along with promising results from our pivotal studies demonstrating efficacy in the prevention of RSV disease, marks important progress toward our goal of having clesrovimab available in time for the 2025-26 RSV season,” said Dr. Paula Annunziato, senior vice president, infectious diseases and vaccines, Global Clinical Development, Merck Research Laboratories. “We look forward to working alongside the FDA on the review of clesrovimab, which, if approved, would be the first and only single dose immunization for infants regardless of weight designed to protect them for the duration of their first RSV season.” The application is supported by results from the pivotal Phase 2b/3 CLEVER trial (MK-1654-004), a randomized placebo-controlled trial evaluating a single dose of clesrovimab administered to healthy preterm and full-term infants (birth to 1 year of age), and interim results from the ongoing Phase 3 SMART trial (MK-1654-007) evaluating the safety and efficacy of clesrovimab versus palivizumab in infants and children at increased risk for severe RSV disease. Data from these trials were presented during IDWeek in October 2024. If approved, Merck anticipates that clesrovimab would be available for ordering by physicians and healthcare administrators by July 2025, with shipments to arrive in time for the 2025 RSV season. About clesrovimab (MK-1654) Clesrovimab (MK-1654) is an investigational, extended half-life monoclonal antibody (mAb) developed as a passive immunization for the prevention of RSV disease. Clesrovimab is designed to be administered as the same single dose, regardless of weight, and is being studied in healthy preterm, full-term and at-risk infants to provide direct, rapid, and durable protection through their first RSV season against mild, moderate and severe RSV. About Merck’s commitment to global supply and access of clesrovimab Since the discovery of clesrovimab, our investigational respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) monoclonal antibody (mAb), our goal has been to facilitate global access to this intervention. We are diligently developing our regulatory and access strategies, as well as our supply chain to be fit-for-purpose for low- and middle-income countries by utilizing diversified internal investments and external partnerships. The company is working with urgency to submit licensure applications to address unmet needs for RSV prevention globally. About RSV Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a contagious virus that causes widespread seasonal infections like the flu, with a worldwide burden in infants and older adults. There is high unmet need for preventative options in both healthy and high-risk infants. Globally, RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for healthy infants under a year old, and a major cause of death in low- and middle-income countries. RSV can lead to serious respiratory conditions like bronchiolitis and pneumonia, causing an estimated 3.6 million hospitalizations and 101,000 deaths a year worldwide in children under five. According to the CDC, RSV season starts in the fall and peaks in the winter in most regions of the United States, but timing and severity in a given community or region can vary year to year. About Merck At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) , Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and LinkedIn . Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline candidates that the candidates will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site ( www.sec.gov ). Media Contacts: Olivia Finucane +44 7881 262476 Courtney Ronaldo (908) 442-5695 Investor Contacts: Damini Chokshi (732) 594-1577 Peter Dannenbaum (732) 594-1579 Source: Merck & Co., Inc.

Sanofi reported a 25% boost in sales for its vaccines division during the third quarter, helped by earlier-than-anticipated orders of its flu shots as well as rising revenue from Beyfortus, its RSV antibody for infants.Announcing earnings Friday, the French pharmaceutical company said Beyfortus sales were 645 million euros, or about $700 million. Overall, Sanofis vaccines unit brought in about 3.8 billion euros, driving total company sales to $13.4 billion.The companys performance beat Wall Street expectations, pushing its share price higher in Friday trading on French and U.S. stock exchanges.We reached almost 16% sales growth in the third quarter, illustrating the underlying strength of our portfolio, said Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson, in a statement. Our performance was boosted by the phasing of flu and Beyfortus, he added.Beyfortus is approved in the U.S. to prevent disease from respiratory syncytial virus infections in infants up to 24 months old who are entering their first RSV season, or who remain vulnerable during their second season. The antibody drug was approved last summer.Recently, Sanofi and its partner AstraZeneca gained regulatory approval for a new manufacturing line to expand supply of the shot Beyfortus. The companies had struggled to keep up with supply during Beyfortus first season on the market, as higher-than-expected demand led to a shortage of its 100 milligram dose for infants weighing 11 pounds or more. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention responded by recommending doses be prioritized for high-risk infants, and encouraged women who were pregnant to receive Pfizers RSV vaccine Abrysvo, if eligible.Sanofi has said it expects the increased Beyfortus capacity to support access to the drug for every eligible baby in the U.S.The only other available treatment for RSV prevention in infants is the antibody Synagis, but use of that drug is limited to certain high-risk infants. Merck & Co. could soon bring to market another competing antibody called clesrovimab, which it aims to make available for the 2025-2026 RSV season, if approved.The typical RSV season begins in fall and lasts through the winter in the U.S. '