About this trial
RSV is a leading cause of severe respiratory illness and hospitalisation for young children, with particularly high rates of RSV respiratory infection observed amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in Australia's Northern Territory. The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether routinely administering a single dose of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-specific monoclonal antibody, nirsevimab, from 6 months old, provides protection against RSV infections for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children throughout in the first and second year of life.
In this study, participants will be randomly assigned to receive either a single dose of intra-muscular RSV-specific monoclonal antibody, nirsevimab, or standard care (no RSV-specific monoclonal antibody). The primary objective is to determine whether administration ofRSV-specific monoclonal antibody, nirsevimab reduces the occurrence of RSV infection over the subsequent 12 months. Secondary objectives include assessing whether nirsevimab reduces RSV-related hospital attendances, as well as respiratory and all-cause hospitalisations, over the following 6 and 12 months. An assessment of cost-effectiveness will also be undertaken.
Participants will receive the study intervention at 6 months of age (+90 days). Follow-up will be conducted through passive surveillance using electronic medical records and public health notification systems to capture relevant health outcomes.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander infant ≥ 6 calendar months old and < 9 calendar months old.
Parent/caregiver is willing for their infant to participate in the study and informed consent for the infant's participation in the study has been given.
Parent/caregiver is willing to comply with all study procedures outlined in the protocol, including review of maternal/ infant immunisation records, electronic medical records and public health notifications, for the duration of the study.
Disqualifiers
Infants with a contra-indication to RSV-SMA per the Australian Immunisation Handbook (i.e. anaphylaxis to a prior dose).
Infants who have received a prior dose of RSV-SMA at ≥ 3 calendar months old.
Previously enrolled in this trial.
Infants who have received a prior dose of RSV-SMA between ≥ 1 calendar months old and < 3 calendar months old will be excluded until at least 150 days have passed since their most recent dose. Randomisation can be delayed until participants meet this criterion.
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Nirsevimab (RSV-specific monoclonal antibody)
Treatment groups
Sponsors and collaborators
Menzies School of Health Research
Lead sponsor
University of Sydney
Collaborator
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
Collaborator