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A vaccine against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), for which there are presently no authorized shots, showed promising results in elderly patients on Thursday, according to pharmaceutical behemoth Pfizer. The virus can cause pneumonia in elderly people and causes bronchiolitis, a respiratory condition that primarily affects newborns. RSV infection causes more than 177,000 older patients to be hospitalised each year in the US, and 14,000 of them eventually die, according to US health authorities. In an ongoing clinical trial, the vaccine is being evaluated on individuals 60 years of age and older. A preliminary investigation revealed that it was roughly 85% successful in averting severe cases, or those with three or more symptoms. In the upcoming months, Pfizer said it intends to submit applications for the vaccine to the US Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory bodies. “Scientists and researchers have worked to develop RSV vaccines with little success for over half a century. These findings are an important step in our effort to help protect against RSV disease,” Pfizer’s chief scientific officer, Annaliesa Anderson, who oversees vaccine development, stated in a statement. The company reported that the vaccination was well received and that there were no safety issues. They added that they would submit the findings for publication in a scientific journal. Out of the anticipated 40,000 participants, around 37,000 have already been enrolled in the clinical trial. The vaccine, which targets two strains of the virus, is given to half of them, while the other half receives a placebo. In addition to Moderna, other companies are striving to create an RSV vaccine.

The maker of the Dolo 650, Micro Labs, claims that it spent a pittance on the brand’s marketing and promotion, spending less than Rs 10 crore annually. Micro Labs is the subject of a controversy over allegations of unethical business practises. The Bangalore-based company was under scrutiny last week during a hearing in another case brought by the Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives Association before the Supreme Court. The corporation is accused of giving doctors freebies worth over Rs 1,000 crore. During the pandemic, the Rs 2 pill became well-known for providing pain and fever relief. Its sales for the fiscal year that ended in March this year totalled Rs 362 crore, an increase of over 30%. “Dolo 650 is a mega brand due to first-mover advantage, its quality, availability and reach across the country. It is a mass brand and an established market leader with 50% share, even before Covid,” said Dilip Surana, the CMD of Micro Labs. The offices of the Rs 4,500 crore Micro Labs were raided and the premises searched by the tax department last month on suspicion of tax evasion. In total, the company has spent Rs 1000 crore on marketing for all of its products, not just Dolo 650. “On the pain relief pill alone, the marketing expenditure has typically been 4-5% of its annual turnover of Rs 200-250 crore,” said Executive VP (Marketing) Jayaraj Govindaraju. He said that the basic promotions (to doctors) during Covid were of low value and comprised handing out free (Dolo) samples, brand reminders, masks & sanitizers, and scientific dissemination through conferences on fever.