RSV is a life-threatening, hidden epidemic for growing population of adults 60+
with over 177,000 hospitalizations — and 14,000 deaths — every year
Highly contagious, RSV spreads like COVID-19 and exacerbates chronic medical conditions —
including COPD, asthma, heart failure and lung disease — making it difficult to breathe
CDC issues health advisory about current RSV surge in U.S.
August 31, 2021 – The Alliance for Multispecialty Research (AMR) in Miami — a leading clinical research company that attracted national attention for leading the first community-based phase one COVID-19 vaccine trial — has been awarded Adult RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccine clinical research studies in each of its 14 research centers across the U.S. AMR Miami is now enrolling study volunteers — adults 60 years and older — to participate in the phase 3 RSV vaccine clinical trials to begin in August, in advance of the cold and flu season.
“Unfortunately, most people don’t know about RSV and how this highly contagious respiratory virus can be deadly for adults 60 and older,” said AMR Chief Medical Director Dr. Jeffrey Rosen. “From the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw how fast deadly viruses can spread — particularly among senior communities and multi-generational families. Pursuing an adult RSV vaccine is the next critical step for public health.”
With relaxed restrictions for the coronavirus, a surge in RSV cases is expected. In fact, the CDC recently issued an RSV Health Advisory to notify clinicians and caregivers about increased RSV cases in the U.S.
RSV: A hidden epidemic for senior adults
Pediatricians have known about RSV in children for decades, but the virus has flown under the radar for doctors caring for senior adults. While RSV causes mild cold-like symptoms in healthy adults who recover in a week or two, RSV infections in adults 60+ can become life-threatening — particularly if the virus enters the lower respiratory tract, making it difficult to breathe.
- An estimated 2.6 million adults 65 and older annually contract RSV, according to a report from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
- An estimated 177,000 older adults are hospitalized — and approximately 14,000 die each year in the U.S. alone due to an RSV infection, according to the CDC.
- RSV statistics for older adults are widely considered to be significantly higher. When an older or high-risk patient is admitted to the hospital for respiratory insufficiency, some doctors test for RSV, but a majority do not.
- Physicians often don’t recognize the difference between RSV and the flu, coding patient records with influenza or pneumonia.
Similar to the coronavirus, RSV is a fast-spreading virus that transmits through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes and droplets enter the eyes, nose or mouth of a healthy person. Unlike the coronavirus, RSV can remain infectious on hard surfaces for up to six hours.
Currently, there is no commercially available RSV vaccine. “With a growing adult population, AMR recognizes the urgent need for an RSV vaccine to prevent hospitalization and death in older adults,” said Dr. Terry Klein, AMR-Wichita.
RSV risk for 60+ expected to increase
Adults ages 60 and older are at greater risk for severe RSV, largely due to the gradual deterioration of the immune system due to aging. Known as immunosenescence, even the most active older adults have a weakened immune system as a consequence of aging.
The risk for RSV in older adults is expected to increase. By 2050, the number of Americans 65+ is expected to nearly double, from 46 million to almost 90 million. RSV risk is compounded by the nearly 60 percent of grandparents and older relatives who participate in caring for children under 13 years old, according to the National Association of Childcare Resource & Referral Agencies. Children who are frequently exposed to RSV in school and childcare facilities can transmit RSV to their older caretakers.
RSV risk higher for people with chronic conditions
People with underlying health conditions also are at increased risk for RSV. The virus can exacerbate chronic medical conditions, including:
| Asthma | Cystic fibrosis |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) | Heart disease |
| Chronic bronchitis/emphysema | Lung disease |
| Congestive heart failure | Sleep apnea |
People with immunodeficiency — such as organ transplant recipients, chemotherapy patients or HIV/AIDS patients — are also at risk for severe RSV infections.
Among adults 65 and older, 85 percent have at least one chronic medical condition; 68 percent have two or more, according to the National Council on Aging. More than 16.4 million people have COPD, the third leading cause of death by disease in the U.S. according to the American Lung Association.
“For people with chronic medical conditions, there is a profound probability that an RSV infection will exacerbate their condition,” said Dr. Klein. “With no specific RSV treatment available, doctors can only provide supportive care which may include intubation. This is why our clinical research trials for a vaccine to prevent RSV are critical.”
Volunteers are key to vaccine success
While continuing COVID-19 and other medical research studies, AMR will begin its RSV adult vaccine clinical trials this summer in advance of cold and flu season to maximize data collection. With the success of phase 1 and 2, the investigational RSV vaccine has been approved as safe to begin the large-scale phase 3 vaccine research — becoming one of AMR’s largest volunteer clinical trials.
Adults ages 60 and older who qualify for AMR’s RSV vaccine study will receive, at no cost, study-related medical exams, lab work and an investigational RSV vaccine or placebo. Insurance is not required; compensation may be available for time and travel.
To inquire about becoming an RSV study volunteer,
contact 1-888-259-1231 or visit www.AMRLLC.com/open
“We simply cannot help save lives without the heroic participation of healthy clinical research volunteers,” added Dr. Rosen. “Volunteers are key to our success to find vaccines to protect and save lives — including their own.”
ABOUT AMR
Founded in 1994 as a network of clinical research sites, Alliance for Multispecialty Research (AMR) consolidated in 2017 and operates across the United States in 14 research centers. In March 2020 during the global pandemic, AMR attracted national attention for its leadership to conduct one of the first community-based COVID-19 vaccine trials. AMR is a three-time recipient of the World Vaccine Congress’s Vaccine Industry Excellence (ViE) Award for “Best Clinical Trial Site or Network” (2013, 2015, 2017) and was a finalist for this prestigious award in 2016 and 2018. AMR has conducted more than 7,750 clinical research trials with over 145,550 research participants (volunteers). For more about AMR, visit www.AMRLLC.com.
