World's First RSV Vaccine + First Novel Treatment for ALS – Xtalks Life Science Podcast Ep. 109

In this episode, Ayesha talked about the FDA approval of the world’s first vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The vaccine is approved for adults 60 years of age and older. RSV is a respiratory virus that causes mild to moderate cold and flu-like symptoms, but it can cause complications like lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) and pneumonia in older adults and young children. Read more about the vaccine, including clinical trial results on its efficacy and safety.

Ayesha and the team also discussed the FDA approval of Qalsody (tofersen), a novel, first-of-its-kind treatment for ALS. The treatment, an antisense oligonucleotide developed by Biogen, targets abnormal proteins arising from SOD1 mutations, which are associated with the development of ALS in some patients. Even though these mutations only account for two percent of ALS cases worldwide, the treatment is an important milestone that sets the stage for the development of more ALS therapies.