Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov
A Clinical Trial on Safety in Pregnant Women and How Well the Infant is Protected Against RSV-associated Lower Respiratory Tract Infection When the Pregnant Woman Receives the Approved RSV Vaccine Compared to a Placebo.
A Phase-IIIb Individually Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial on Safety of RSVA/B-preF Vaccine in Pregnant Women and Efficacy Against Severe RSV-associated Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Infants
A Clinical Trial on Safety in Pregnant Women and How Well the Infant is Protected Against RSV-associated Lower Respiratory Tract Infection When the Pregnant Woman Receives the Approved RSV Vaccine Compared to a Placebo. (NCT06955728) is a Phase 3 interventional studying RSV Infections and RSV Immunisation, sponsored by University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.
About This Trial
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a virus that often affects children during childhood. Even though most cases of RSV are mild, it can cause serious disease and even death - especially in very young babies, babies born too early and those born with heart and lung problems. It is the most common cause for children under 5 years old to be hospitalised. In 2019, there were about 33 million RSV-infections in the lower respiratory tract (in the lungs and below the voice box) of which 3,6 million people were hospitalised and 26,300 passed away in hospital due to RSV. Almost half (50%) of deaths that are caused by RSV, happen in children younger than 6 months old and the majority (more than 95%) of these deaths happen to infants and children in low- and middle-income countries. A way that can help protect babies from becoming infected is through giving vaccines against the germ (RSV) that is targeted for prevention. There are currently no registered vaccines that can be given directly to babies however there is a lot of information available that shows that a vaccine can be safely giving to a mother while she is still pregnant. The mother then produces antibodies (protection cells) that is transferred to the baby before the baby is born, and the baby is protected from getting sick during the first few months of life. One of the vaccines that has been developed (ABRYSVO) has been used in many clinical trials in pregnant moms (and older people) to test if it is safe and will protect young babies and much older people who are all at the highest risk for a severe RSV disease. The vaccine was given to more than 4,000 pregnant women. The results from the study and previous studies showed that the vaccine was safe and the babies had a lower chance of getting severe RSV disease and going to hospital. It showed that the vaccine prevented severe RSV infection in around 80% of babies younger than 90 days, and 70% of babies younger than 6 months. Therefore, the vaccine has been licensed in a few countries around the world (including the United States of America and other high-income countries) which means that pregnant women can receive this vaccine during their pregnancy if they wish to (without being on a clinical trial). It has also been licensed in South Africa but is not yet available in the country for pregnant women to receive. The licensure is also underway in other African countries. However, the results of the previous studies of this vaccine also showed that a slightly higher number of premature babies were born to women who received the vaccine compared to women who did not receive the vaccine. The information received from these studies was however not enough to decide if the earlier births were related to the vaccine or not, and more information is needed - which is one of the main reasons for this study. Importantly, all of the babies who were born earlier were only born a few weeks earlier than expected (around 35 weeks of pregnancy), and all the babies were well and survived. The previous studies on this vaccine happened during the COVID-19 pandemic at which time people were wearing masks and contacting other people less therefore not spreading RSV around as we would normally expect. By doing this study, it will assist the investigators to determine if the vaccine is really as good as it is perceived to be for preventing serious RSV illness in the babies. This RSV vaccine is a very important medical intervention, and it is as important that the effect that this vaccine will have on pregnant women and on the infants born to mothers who receive the vaccine can be measured. It is especially important in African and lower-middle income countries as the vaccine was not tested as much in people living in Africa compared to others. Therefore, the main reason for doing this trial is to see how much value the vaccine can bring to these countries in terms of protecting young babies and infants where many may get a severe infection and be hospitalised. It will also measure if the vaccine does increase the chances of a baby being born earlier than expected. It will only be carried out in the countries after the vaccine has been approved for use by pregnant women (at the right time) as part of their pregnancy care.
What Stage of Research Is This?
Phase 3 trials confirm efficacy and safety in large patient groups (often 300–3,000+) and form the evidence base for an FDA approval submission. For RSV Infections, Phase 3 studies typically randomize participants between the investigational treatment and either a placebo or current standard of care. A successful Phase 3 result is the threshold most treatments need to clear before regulatory approval.
This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.
Target enrollment of 13,000 participants makes this one of the larger RSV Infections trials currently registered. Trials at this scale are typically global, run across many sites, and designed to generate the definitive evidence package for an FDA approval submission or a label expansion.
Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)
These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.
Original Eligibility Criteria
View original clinical language
Treatments Being Tested
Vaccine
The active ingredients in RSVpreF are 2 stabilized RSV prefusion F antigens, in equal amounts from virus subgroups A and B, in a lyophilized dosage form for reconstitution.
Placebo
Placebo matched to vaccine but not containing any active ingredients
Locations (11)
Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.
How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial
Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06955728), the sponsor (University of Witwatersrand, South Africa), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.
Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.
Authoritative Sources
The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NCT06955728 clinical trial studying?
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a virus that often affects children during childhood. Even though most cases of RSV are mild, it can cause serious disease and even death - especially in very young babies, babies born too early and those born with heart and lung problems. It is the most common cause for children under 5 years old to be hospitalised. In 2019, there were about 33 million RSV-infections in the lower respiratory tract (in the lungs and below the voice box) of which 3,6 million people were hospitalised and 26,300 passed away in hospital due to RSV. Almost half (50%) of deaths t… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.
Who can participate in NCT06955728?
Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.
How do I contact the trial site for NCT06955728?
Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.
Is participating in a clinical trial safe?
Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.
Where can I verify the data on this page?
Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.
How This Page Is Built
Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT06955728. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06955728. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."
Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.
Last updated 2026-06-07 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.