Quirónsalud Marbella Hospital, the first medical centre to initiate a worldwide study on the effectiveness of a vaccine against RSV
The Marbella hospital is one of the selected teams worldwide to perform this clinical trial with an outstanding start given that it is the first hospital to provide volunteers and, therefore, to commence the first stage of the research for this scientific trial.
Quirónsalud Marbella Hospital has been selected for the international research study of a vaccine against the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). The Pulmonology Unit of the Marbella medical centre is one of the selected teams worldwide to perform this clinical trial with an outstanding start given that it is the first hospital to provide volunteers and, therefore, to commence the first stage of the research for this scientific trial.
"Our hospital is contributing to the trials with 50 patients out of whom we have already selected approximately 20, with the first 4 Spanish trial participants being part of this group. In all the cases the drug was well tolerated. This study is scheduled to have 1,000 participants from various countries all over the world" explained Doctor José María Ignacio García, the Head of the Pulmonology Unit, who is in charge of the research study at Quirónsalud Marbella Hospital.
This trial attempts to assess the effectiveness of a new combined vaccine against RSV, a highly contagious virus that can cause infections in the lungs and the breathing airways. "During the trial, individuals are vaccinated with the conventional flu vaccine and the vaccine against RSV. The trial is to assess whether the strength of the two vaccines changes when administered in combination (simultaneous administration). At the same time, this study aims to analyse the safety of the new vaccine and its use to induce RSV antibodies in large population groups, which will allow its commercialisation in a short space of time. The performance of these types of clinical trials is very important to allow scientists ascertain the suitability of the vaccines that will be made available to the general public. Clearly, progress could not be made without adequate preliminary research work", established the expert.
This research study, which focuses on patients over 65, commenced last October and will extend for the next six months. This segment of the population is the most vulnerable to severe forms of RSV infections, although breast-feeding babies under 6 months of age are also at risk, as they may suffer from severe diseases if they become infected.
According to Doctor Ignacio García, "the RSV infection is seasonal and is most frequent in the winter months. There is currently no approved vaccine that can prevent the infection caused by this virus and there are no specific treatments for it, aside from the mere relief of the symptoms".
