Unmet need

An effective vaccine does not eliminate every protection gap

The MMR vaccine is highly effective and remains the cornerstone of measles prevention. However, vaccination cannot provide immediate or adequate protection in every circumstance.

Complications

What measles can do

1 to 5

unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles is hospitalized.

1 in 20

children with measles gets pneumonia, the most common cause of death from measles in young children.

1 in 1,000

children who get measles will develop encephalitis (swelling of the brain), which can lead to convulsions and leave the child deaf or with intellectual disability.

1–3 in 1,000

children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.

Source: CDC, Measles Symptoms and Complications.

Populations with unmet need

Immunocompromised patients

Live attenuated vaccines are contraindicated for many immunocompromised individuals, who may also be at elevated risk of severe measles.

Infants below the routine vaccination age

Infants younger than the routine first-dose age are not routinely vaccinated and may have waning maternal antibody.

Pregnant individuals exposed to measles

The MMR vaccine is contraindicated during pregnancy, leaving passive immunization as the available option after exposure.

Vaccine nonresponders

A small proportion of vaccine recipients do not develop adequate protective immunity following vaccination.

Susceptible contacts after exposure

Contacts identified during an outbreak may require immediate protection rather than an immune response that develops over time.

Patients at elevated risk of severe disease

Some patients face a higher likelihood of complications and may benefit from measles-specific intervention.

Current options

Vaccination may provide post-exposure protection when administered promptly to eligible individuals.

Immune globulin may be used for selected high-risk susceptible contacts, but it is a pooled blood product rather than a standardized measles-specific monoclonal antibody.

Supportive care remains central to the treatment of established measles. Vitamin A may be used under medical supervision in selected patients, but it is not a direct-acting antiviral.

How the options compare

Saravir's product candidate is investigational. Entries for the Saravir column describe development intent, not demonstrated performance.

Comparison of the MMR vaccine, immune globulin, and Saravir’s investigational antibody
	MMR vaccine	Immune globulin	Saravir investigational antibody
Appropriate population	Eligible individuals without contraindications	Selected high-risk susceptible contacts	Immune compromised people who cannot be vaccinated or do not respond to vaccine; infants too young for vaccine; pregnant women; any vulnerable individual e.g. transplant patients, chemotherapy patients
Speed of protection	Develops over time after administration	Immediate	Designed to be immediate
Requires recipient immune response	Yes	No	No
Measles-specific	Yes (active immunization)	Pooled polyclonal product; measles activity varies by lot	Yes, measles-specific monoclonal antibodies
Product consistency	Standardized vaccine	Derived from pooled human plasma	Defined antibody composition; intended to be standardized
Route and administration	Subcutaneous injection	Intramuscular or intravenous, volume dependent on weight	Intramuscular
Duration of protection	Long-term in responders	Short-lived	Designed to protect after exposure for duration of need
Use after exposure	May be used promptly in eligible individuals	Used in selected exposed individuals	Designed for use in all exposed or vulnerable individuals
Development or approval status	Approved	Approved	Investigational

Appropriate population

MMR vaccine: Eligible individuals without contraindications
Immune globulin: Selected high-risk susceptible contacts
Saravir (investigational): Immune compromised people who cannot be vaccinated or do not respond to vaccine; infants too young for vaccine; pregnant women; any vulnerable individual e.g. transplant patients, chemotherapy patients

Speed of protection

MMR vaccine: Develops over time after administration
Immune globulin: Immediate
Saravir (investigational): Designed to be immediate

Requires recipient immune response

MMR vaccine: Yes
Immune globulin: No
Saravir (investigational): No

Measles-specific

MMR vaccine: Yes (active immunization)
Immune globulin: Pooled polyclonal product; measles activity varies by lot
Saravir (investigational): Yes, measles-specific monoclonal antibodies

Product consistency

MMR vaccine: Standardized vaccine
Immune globulin: Derived from pooled human plasma
Saravir (investigational): Defined antibody composition; intended to be standardized

Route and administration

MMR vaccine: Subcutaneous injection
Immune globulin: Intramuscular or intravenous, volume dependent on weight
Saravir (investigational): Intramuscular

Duration of protection

MMR vaccine: Long-term in responders
Immune globulin: Short-lived
Saravir (investigational): Designed to protect after exposure for duration of need

Use after exposure

MMR vaccine: May be used promptly in eligible individuals
Immune globulin: Used in selected exposed individuals
Saravir (investigational): Designed for use in all exposed or vulnerable individuals

Development or approval status

MMR vaccine: Approved
Immune globulin: Approved
Saravir (investigational): Investigational

Saravir supports routine measles vaccination. A passive antibody product is intended to complement vaccination for people who cannot rely on it, not to replace it.