With respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season around the corner, Sanofi is bringing in some celebrity mom star power to help spread the word about its pediatric antibody Beyfortus.
Emmy Award winning actress, singer and TV host Keke Palmer is teaming up with Sanofi as a paid spokesperson to underscore an education push on Beyfortus’ use as a protection against serious RSV lung infection in babies.
“As moms, we spend so much time preparing for our baby's arrival and thinking about how to help keep them healthy. That includes being aware of RSV and the risk it can pose during a baby's first year of life," the actress, who gave birth in 2023, said in a Sanofi press release.
According to Palmer, she discussed options for serious RSV protection with her son’s pediatrician, together landing on Beyfortus. The drug is designed for use in babies and newborns entering their first RSV season as well as in children up to 24 months of age who remain vulnerable to severe RSV through their second season.
“That's why I'm partnering with Sanofi to encourage parents to learn more about RSV and talk with their baby's doctor about a protection plan that works for their family. For my baby that included Beyfortus,” she continued.
RSV season typically spans from fall to spring in most parts of the U.S. Sanofi recommends that parents of older babies about to enter their first RSV season discuss prevention options with their pediatrician as soon as possible to avoid missing the optimal immunization window. Babies born during the RSV season, however, may receive the antibody at birth or at an early pediatrician visit.
Sanofi’s celebrity Beyfortus push stands to remind parents that RSV can affect any baby and can lead to serious respiratory illness as a leading cause of hospitalization in infants younger than one year old in the U.S. The disease is “unpredictable, and it's difficult to know which babies may become seriously ill,” the company’s head of North America medical, vaccines Ayman Chit noted in the release.
“Beyfortus delivers ready-made antibodies, helping to provide rapid protection against serious RSV lung infection for 5 months, the typical length of an RSV season,” Chit added. “More than 11 million parents in the US have chosen Beyfortus for their baby, and by partnering with Keke Palmer, we're encouraging more families to learn about RSV prevention and talk with their baby’s doctor about Beyfortus.”
Beyfortus is specifically indicated to help prevent RSV lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD). The AstraZeneca-partnered drug shares the first-season infant market with Merck’s Enflonsia, but with a two-year head start on its rival’s narrower 2025 approval, Beyfortus is steadily solidifying its spot as a fast-growing blockbuster. Last year, the drug pulled in €1.8 billion ($2 billion) in sales for Sanofi, contributing to a bump in the French drugmaker’s vaccine business.
However, Merck is looking to heat up the competition, as it’s gearing up for a potential Enflonsia label expansion that would allow it to compete with Beyfortus in kids under 2 years old who remain at risk for severe RSV through their second RSV season.
Ahead of last year’s RSV season, Sanofi went a similar star-studded route with a “celebrity mom squad” brought together to endorse the drug. Actor and singer Mandy Moore, author Elaine Welteroth, chef Gaby Dalkin, citizen astronaut Katya Echazarreta and gold-medal Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson East all discussed their experiences with RSV and their decision to immunize their babies with Beyfortus in a campaign video shot at Dalkin’s house.