"When Alessandro Barbera was rushed to a California hospital with infant botulism in October, his father had barely heard of the disease, never mind the rare and costly treatment that likely saved the newborn's life. Now, however, Tony Barbera is deeply grateful for BabyBIG, the sole antidote to the paralyzing and potentially deadly illnesses linked to contaminated ByHeart infant formula. It is hugely remarkable, said Barbera, 35, whose son is slowly recovering."
"Prior to the discovery of BabyBIG, some of these hospitalizations would take two or three months, Viswanath said, if infected children recovered at all. Licensed in 2003, BabyBIG is the brand name for human botulism immune globulin, an IV medication that uses antibodies from volunteers vaccinated against botulism to help babies too young to fight the disease on their own."
At least 39 infants across 18 states have been sickened in a botulism outbreak tied to contaminated ByHeart infant formula since August. BabyBIG, licensed in 2003, is the only approved treatment and is made from human plasma containing antibodies from vaccinated donors. The treatment neutralizes the botulinum toxin and substantially shortens and reduces severity of hospitalizations compared with pre-BabyBIG outcomes. The treatment's development traces to Dr. Stephen Arnon’s work beginning in 1976. Infant botulism occurs when spores germinate in the intestine and release toxin that attacks the nervous system. Small groups of donors are essential to production.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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