Increasing awareness of human metapneumovirus cases underscore urgency of vaccine development
Cases of HMPV, which has swept hospitals in China, have been increasing across the EU and the UK as well. Ecraid is collaborating with the University of Oxford, University Medical Center Utrecht and Sanofi on utilising the POS-ARI-PC study’s infrastructure for evidence generation towards the development of vaccines.
Recent photos and videos of crowded hospitals in China raised fears. Reports of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases have been increasing across Europe, too. Data released by the UK Health Security Agency shows that, in the week ending January 19, five percent of almost 8,000 hospital swabs tested for respiratory pathogens in the country came back positive for HMPV. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said that while cases are in line with previous winter seasons, they are monitoring the situation.
Ecraid, too, is monitoring the spread of the virus in Europe and is ready to respond if necessary.
HMPV
HMPV is a common virus that causes cold-like symptoms. It is contracted through direct contact with infected individuals or by touching contaminated surfaces. First identified in 2001, the virus has since spread around the globe.
While it is neither new, nor poses an acute threat to global health, HMPV can be serious for vulnerable people, such as older adults, young children, or high-risk patient groups.
Vaccine development
Some viral infections can progress to become a serious lung infection and cause complications such as pneumonia, and even death, particularly in high-risk patient groups. Safe and effective vaccines are available for some respiratory viruses such as influenza, RSV and SARS-CoV-2, but there are other viruses, such as HMPV, for which no licensed vaccine exists.
Sanofi is pursuing the development of new vaccines against such respiratory viral pathogens. For this, the global healthcare company is taking advantage of the Perpetual Observational Study on Acute Respiratory Infections in Primary Care (POS-ARI-PC), part of the EU-funded ECRAID-Base project. Data from patients consulting their GP with respiratory infection symptoms will be used to inform Sanofi’s vaccine development. Coordinating investiagator, Alike van der Velden (UMCU) adds: “Quantifying the incidences and health care burden of various respiratory viruses in the elderly and high-risk patients adds to the understanding where extra (preventive) care could be relevant.”
POS-ARI-PC
POS-ARI-PC is a multi-country, prospective perpetual observational study (POS) among patients presenting in primary care with acute respiratory tract infections (ARI). Next to providing critically important benchmark descriptive data, the study aims to establish a research-ready infrastructure for enhanced observational studies and clinical trials related to treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of ARI in the primary care setting. This “plug-in” approach makes it possible to set up new studies much quicker, without having to go through the full process of regulatory approvals for each individual research.
The study is being conducted under EU-funded ECRAID-Base project.