Respiratory Studies

Respiratory Syncitial Virus (2004 to 2005)

The Respiratory Syncitial Virus (RSV) study is an international study investigating the usefulness of Montelukast (Singulair) in the treatment of bronchiolitis, an infection of the lungs in very young children. Montelukast is a successful drug in the treatment of asthma for some people. The drugs mechanism of action suggests it would be effective in reducing the symptoms of lung infection caused by this virus.

Over winter, the VTG recruited children aged between 12 and 24 months who were admitted to hospital with bronchiolitis with no serious past medical history. The study is continuing in other Australian sites over the winter months.

STUDY STATUS: Completed.

Numax Study (2005)

MedImmune has developed a new antibody product called Numax™ to protect against RSV. Numax is derived from another RSV drug called SynagisÆ. Studies of Numax™ in animals and in laboratory tests have suggested that it is 20 to 100 times more active against RSV than SynagisÆ. During this study, we looked at the safety and effectiveness of Numax™. The aim of the study was to see if Numax™ is more effective than SynagisÆ at reducing the number of admissions to hospital for RSV infection. Further studies are still being conducted at other sites in Australia.

STUDY STATUS: Completed.

Human MetaPneumoVirus Study (2003 to 2006)

This study ran throughout the winter months from 2003 to 2006, and involved estimating how many children in hospital with chest infections, who are at high risk of having severe disease, are infected with the human Metapneumovirus (hMPV). This virus can be detected by taking a small amount of a child’s nasal secretions through a nasal wash. The study enrolled 1500 children from a number of sites and countries. In Australia there were 118 children enrolled, with 42 of these being from Perth. The aim of the study was to describe the incidence rate and clinical features of hMPV infection of the lower respiratory tract in hospitalised children at risk of severe disease. The results of the study is not yet available.

STUDY STATUS: Completed.