European Commission Approves Pfizer’s ABRYSVO to Help Protect Infants through Maternal Immunization and Older Adults from RSV
24 August 2023
Pfizer Matisse Study
The Maternal and Child Health team was elated to hear the news that the study product ABRYSVO- developed by Pfizer (bivalent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prefusion F (RSVpreF) vaccine) has been approved by the FDA as well as the EU, as the first maternal vaccine and an adult vaccine respectively. The burden of disease caused by RSV has been crippling for these populations of patients.
The Wits RHI Shandukani site team is proud to have been part of the MATISSE (MATernal Immunization Study for Safety and Efficacy) study which contributed to data that has proven that the vaccine passively protects against lower respiratory tract disease in infants, caused by RSV, from birth through to six months by pregnant maternal patients being vaccinated between 24 to 36 weeks gestation. Data has also shown from another study – RENOIR (RSV vaccine Efficacy study iNOlder adults Immunized against RSV disease)- that active immunization of participants 60 years and older prevents lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV. For more details view the Pfizer study press releases:
Wits RHI’s Project PrEP- The launch of Project PrEP study: providing the Dapi-ring as a new PrEP choice in Tshwane, South Africa.
In 2016 South Africa was one of the first countries in the world to approve and begin the rollout of oral PrEP for populations at significant risk of HIV. Since then, South Africa has made significant progress with over a million individuals having been initiated on oral PrEP. In 2021, WHO recommended that the dapivirine ring (PrEP ring) may be offered as an additional HIV prevention choice for women. In 2022, SAHPRA approved this monthly vaginal ring for use by adult women (18 years and older) to protect against sexual transmission of HIV. Project PrEP, an initiative funded by Unitaid and implemented by Wits RHI, is proud to announce the addition of the PrEP ring as an additional PrEP choice at Maria Rantho Clinic in Soshanguve, Tshwane and in other provinces over the coming weeks. This implementation science study is implemented in close collaboration with the national and district Departments of Health, young people, and communities. The study will generate real-world data on integrating a new PrEP method the Dapi-ring, in addition to oral PrEP, and will address a global gap in evidence on understanding choice and patterns of use of different PrEP methods.
Today we came together with our partners to congratulate and launch the Dapi-ring as a new PrEP choice at Maria Rantho Clinic in Soshanguve, Tshwane. This site will be one of the first Department of Health healthcare facilities in South Africa to provide the PrEP ring as an additional PrEP choice. #myprep#prep
