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Researchers at the Baral Laboratory have found that a common asthma medication could help newborns fight respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a leading cause of lung infections in children under 5. The study, published Dec. 18 in Nature Communications, showed that stimulating beta-2 adrenergic receptors with beta-2 agonists improved viral clearance and reduced inflammation in neonatal RSV infections.

Beta-2 agonists are FDA-approved drugs widely used to treat asthma and COPD, but their potential to support the immune system against viral infections is less understood. The study suggests that targeting sympathetic neurons and beta-2 signaling could play a key role in protecting infants from RSV.

While more research is needed before these findings can influence patient care, the results point to new ways to protect infants during their most vulnerable months. Beta-2 agonists could help reduce disease severity at a time when current vaccines and antibody therapies do not provide long-term protection against RSV.

The research was funded by the American Lung Association, the National Institutes of Health, and the American Heart Association.