[Efficacy of the immunoestimulant OM-BV85 in the Prevention of Respiratory Infections].

This is a historic review of immunostimulants evolution, particularly OM-BV85. Immunostimulants rose in an age before antibiotics and no knowledge of immunity principles, but confident on the empiric use of therapeutic vaccines. Case reports and comparison between groups with and without treatment were the way to demonstrate safety and efficacy of immunostimulants. Although there were favorable results, the implementation of the first placebo-controlled clinical trials were not able to demonstrate efficacy. OM-BV85 was the result of therapeutic vaccine concepts evolution employing the good manufacturing practice standards and the current criteria to conduct clinical trials OM-BV85 has demonstrated safety and efficacy in the treatment of pediatric patients susceptible to recurrent respiratory tract infections. OM-BV85 has also demonstrated favourable effects on the reduction of respiratory tract infections in patients suffering chronic pulmonary obstructive disease. A recent study points to the utility of OM-BV85 in the treatment of children with wheezing secondary to repetitive respiratory infections. Although, there were immunostimulants with well defined mechanism of action in the future, currently OM-BV85 is a good option for the treatment of recurrent respiratory infections.