Respiratory tracker: Positive results of the HARMONIE trial buoy eHCP hopes for RSV prevention

​​Between 21 December 2023 and 20 January 2024 CREATION Pinpoint® tracked the conversations of UK eHCPs discussing respiratory diseases on X (formerly Twitter). We analysed 2,632 posts by 1,085 eHCPs.

28 December saw a significant increase in respiratory conversations amongst eHCPs in the UK. This spike in conversation was driven by discussion of RSV; in particular, the positive results of the HARMONIE trial of nirsevimab for the prevention of RSV in infants. A number of eHCPs, such as Senior Clinical Research Fellow Alasdair Munro, shared a graphic explaining the global challenge of preventing RSV in infants and celebrating HARMONIE’s “reduced hospitalisation” results.

The primary results of the Harmonie trial of niservimab for prevention of RSV in infants are now out in @NEJM

Reduced RSV hospitalisation by 83%

Reduced ALL CAUSE LRTI hospitalisation by 58%

Thank you to all the parents and babies who participatedhttps://t.co/H07gxOag0T pic.twitter.com/zhFPjRlbVO

— Alasdair Munro (@apsmunro) December 28, 2023

In January, eHCPs discussed COPD-questions put forward by high-profile American pulmonologist Nick Mark. His posts were shared by 24 eHCPs in the UK, for example by rural GP Jutta Meiwald. Other UK eHCPs shared Nick Mark’s responses with other eHCPs, in an effort to increase visibility and educate peers.

Here’s another pulmonary physiology question that *everyone* who gives O2 to patients ought to know:

What is the primary mechanism by which supplemental oxygen can increase PaCO2 in someone with severe COPD?

1/

— Nick Mark MD (@nickmmark) November 1, 2022

For the period 21 December 2023 to 20 January 2024, a post from The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health garnered the most shares, being retweeted by 35 eHCPs in the UK. The post linked to an article in the Evening Standard, which called on the government to introduce the “game-changer” Beyfortus to help reduce RSV hospitalisations next winter. A paediatric nurse, Sarah Dalton, reflected on the challenges her son has faced since 2006 and responded to the RCPCH’s tweet, saying she “would have given him the RSV jab if it’d been available back then!”. 

RSV positive Bronchiolitis nearly killed my young baby of 7 months old 17yrs ago and despite fabulous care in hospital left him with compromised lungs, later asthma and then numerous pneumonia’s.
I would have given him the RSV jab if it’d been available back then!

— 🫶🏼Sarah ‘Hope Is Everything’ Dalton🫶🏼 (@FeralMother44) December 29, 2023

Each month, we track the eHCP conversation relating to respiratory disease. You can read other editions in the Respiratory Tracker archive .

You can also keep up to date with other pharmaceutical tracking updates, including how HCPs engage with Top 50 pharma and which product approvals are catching their attention.  To receive these updates straight to your inbox you can sign up to receive our monthly eJournal with all of our latest HCP insights. 

If you would like to dig deeper into what we have seen this month then please do get in touch. 

Methodology

• This article analysed the conversation on X of 1,085 HCPs in the UK discussing respiratory disease and related terms between 21 December 2023 and 20 January 2024 using CREATION Pinpoint®.

• Between 21 December 2023 and 20 January 2024, there were 2,632 UK eHCP mentions of respiratory disease and related terms, from 1,085 unique UK eHCP authors.