SK bioscience, a global innovative vaccine and biotech company committed to promoting human health from prevention to cure, today announced that the company successfully hosted a series of symposiums across major regions in Korea with the participation of over 150 primary care physicians. The events, held from July 8 to August 28, highlighted the importance of RSV prevention and introduced Beyfortus® (nirsevimab), a newly launched RSV preventive antibody injection.

Sessions covered the burden of RSV, clinical evidence for Beyfortus®, and vaccination strategies in daily practice. Dr. Geun-Hee Lim, a pediatrician of Jigu Village Pediatric Clinic in Daegu commented, “This symposium provided a valuable opportunity to discuss concrete strategies for RSV prevention in clinical practice. Beyfortus has the potential to become a practical solution that protects not only high-risk infants such as preterm babies but also healthy full-term newborns.”

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infects over 90% of children under age two and is one of the leading causes of bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and infant hospitalization. With no specific treatment available, prevention remains the most effective way to protect vulnerable newborns and infants from severe lower respiratory infections.

Amid this need, Beyfortus®, approved by Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2024 and introduced to the market this year, has drawn strong attention. The antibody injection can be given to all newborns and infants during their first RSV season and to high-risk children under 24 months entering a second season. A single dose provides protection for at least five months, covering the entire RSV season.

In the Phase 3 MELODY trial, Beyfortus® reduced the risk of medically attended lower respiratory tract infections caused by RSV by approximately 74.5%, with a safety profile comparable to placebo. Real-world data from both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and European healthcare settings also confirmed 80-90% effectiveness in preventing RSV-related hospitalizations, demonstrating consistent preventive effects globally.

In May, the Infectious Diseases Committee of the Korean Pediatric Society issued guidelines recommending Beyfortus® for all infants in their first RSV season, as well as for high-risk children. This endorsement by Korea’s pediatric infectious disease experts reinforces the clinical value of antibody-based RSV prevention and provides stronger grounds for its adoption in everyday practice.

Suan Yoo, Head of Domestic Marketing Office at SK bioscience, said, “Beyfortus® represents a new prevention paradigm to protect newborns and infants from RSV. We remain committed to supporting healthcare professionals with essential disease information and prevention solutions, underscoring our responsibility in infectious disease prevention.”