Azithromycin for RSV-induced Respiratory Failure in Children

A Phase III Randomized Controlled Trial of Azithromycin for RSV-induced Respiratory Failure in Children

NIH-funded research University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11145744

This project looks at whether azithromycin can help children with severe breathing problems caused by RSV.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Birmingham, United States)
Project IDNIH-11145744 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

RSV can cause serious lung issues for infants and children, and we currently have limited ways to help them. This project explores if a common antibiotic, azithromycin, can reduce the severity of RSV-induced breathing failure. Researchers believe azithromycin might work by affecting a specific protein in the body called MMP-9, which plays a role in RSV disease. This large-scale effort will involve many hospitals working together to understand if azithromycin can make a real difference for these children.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are infants and children aged 0-11 years who are experiencing acute respiratory failure due to RSV infection and require mechanical ventilation.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have RSV-induced respiratory failure or are outside the specified age range may not receive direct benefit from this particular intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a new and effective treatment to reduce hospital stays and improve outcomes for children suffering from severe RSV infection.

How similar studies have performed: A previous Phase II trial showed that azithromycin was safe and linked to shorter hospital stays and lower levels of a specific inflammatory marker in mechanically-ventilated children.

Where this research is happening

Birmingham, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Airway Disease
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.