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Published in: BioDrugs 5/2003

01-09-2003 | Original Research Article

Ribosomal Immunostimulation

Assessment of Studies Evaluating its Clinical Relevance in the Prevention of Upper and Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Children and Adults

Authors: Professor Joseph A. Bellanti, Dario Olivieri, Elie Serrano

Published in: BioDrugs | Issue 5/2003

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Abstract

Objective

To review the efficacy of the ribosomal immunostimulant Ribomunyl® in preventing upper and lower respiratory tract infections.

Design and setting

Review of studies of 3 and 6 months’ duration comprising part of the international registration file.

Patients

Data from 2117 patients (1215 children and 902 adults); ribosomal immunostimulant n = 1062, placebo n = 1055.

Results

Nineteen randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials were performed between 1983 and 1994 in Europe. In children with ear-nose-throat (ENT) infections, 3 months’ ribosomal immunostimulant treatment significantly decreased the mean number of recurrences (27–68% reduction), and reduced the duration of infection (28–66% reduction) and antibacterial requirement (29–60% reduction). Ribosomal immunostimulant was similarly effective in children with ENT and bronchopulmonary infections, reducing the mean number of recurrences by 32–61% compared with placebo. In children with otitis media, ribosomal immunostimulant reduced recurrences by 10–53% and also reduced the duration of infection, antibacterial use and local surgery requirement. Results obtained from studies of 6 months’ duration confirmed or extended these results. In adult patients with ENT or mixed respiratory infections, ribosomal immunostimulant produced similar reductions to those seen in children for recurrent infections (54–78% reduction), duration of infection (42–79% reduction) and antibacterial use (38% reduction).

Conclusions

These results clearly demonstrate that ribosomal immunostimulant is effective in preventing and in reducing upper and lower respiratory tract infections in children and adults.
Footnotes
1
The use of tradenames is for product identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.
 
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Metadata
Title
Ribosomal Immunostimulation
Assessment of Studies Evaluating its Clinical Relevance in the Prevention of Upper and Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Children and Adults
Authors
Professor Joseph A. Bellanti
Dario Olivieri
Elie Serrano
Publication date
01-09-2003
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
BioDrugs / Issue 5/2003
Print ISSN: 1173-8804
Electronic ISSN: 1179-190X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2165/00063030-200317050-00005

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