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Neuraminidase Inhibitors: Their Role Within our Treatment Armamentarium A new report recently launched by international experts and supported by the World Health Organisation highlighted Europe’s need to improve influenza management by increasing vaccination rates and access to new anti-viral treatments (such as neuraminidase inhibitors) to plan ahead for the next pandemic. A lack of anti-viral medications is one of the major threats to the EU’s ability to handle a future influenza pandemic. What are these drugs, and how do they contribute to the effective management of influenza?
While vaccination remains the first line defence against influenza, those in risk groups—such as the elderly, diabetics and those with immuno-suppressive conditions—may benefit greatly from NIs. Influenza vaccinations have an efficacy rate of approximately 30-80%, depending on the match between the vaccine developed and the particular strain of influenza circulating in the community. Due to the range of vaccine efficacy, those least-equipped to battle the virus are still left at a high risk of contracting influenza, particularly during an epidemic. NIs can help to bridge the gap, and provide a further option for those who are most likely to develop serious complications by reducing the severity and duration of symptoms.
Roche receives positive recommendation in Europe for the oral influenza drug oseltamivir for the treatment and prevention of influenza infection Roche UK announced today that Roche has received a positive recommendation from the Committee for Proprietary’ Medicinal Products (CPMP) for the approval of the oral influenza drug oseltamivir for the treatment of influenza in adults arid children one year and over and the prevention of influenza in adolescents and adults. Roche anticipates that oseltamivir will play an important role in the management of influenza in the UK .The CPMP’s positive opinion was based on clinical trial data demonstrating that oseltamivir provides a more rapid recovers’ from influenza and prevention of complications. by effectively targeting the influenza virus Studies in adults shows that oseltamivir treatment provides a significant reduction in the severity and duration of symptoms over and above symptom relievers alone. 2 In children oseltamivir, taken orally as a convenient liquid form also reduced severity and duration of symptoms and reduced the occurrence of complications requiring antibiotics such as otitis media3. Oseltamivir has also been shown to be effective in a variety of settings for the prevention of influenza, providing immediate protection during an influenza outbreak. In the UK high levels of influenza are associated with an increase in the number of people admitted to hospital with complications such as pneumonia. Influenza is also associated with an increase in the number of deaths, especially’ in the elderly, who are more prone to develop secondary infection after influenza: It is estimated that there are several thousand deaths associated with influenza when influenza reaches normal levels and 20,000 to 30.000 deaths when levels reach epidemic levels.5 "Access to new antivirals such as oseltamivir is important for physicians and patients. It means that the medical profession will have a new w capon to light the influenza virus which affects many people every year in Europe knocking them. flat and causing severe complications and death.’ commented Professor John Oxford, a virology expert from St. Bartholomew's s and the Royal London Hospital. Oseltamivir is already available for the treatment of influenza in over 40 countries world-wide including the Japan. United Slates, Australia. Canada, Korea. Switzerland. and many Latin American countries. Around tour million patients have been treated with oseltamivir since launch. It is also approved in the US for the prevention of influenza in adolescents and adults and in the US and Canada for the treatment of influenza in children aged 1 year and above. Oseltamivir, co-developed with Gilead Sciences Inc. USA, is a systemic treatment for influenza. that targets the neuraminidase protein of the influenza virus. The neuraminidase protein is virtually the same in all common strains of influenza. If neuraminidase is inhibited, the virus is not able to infect new cells and spread in the body. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. Roche is one of the worlds leading research-oriented healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and vitamins. Roche’s innovative products and services address prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, thus enhancing people s well-being and quality of life. Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops arid commercialises therapeutics to advance the care of patients suffering from life-threatening diseases world-wide. The company has five marketed products and focuses its research and clinical programs on antiinfectives, including antivirals. antifungals and antibacterials. Headquartered in Foster City. C A, Gilead has operations in the United States. Europe and Australia. Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is not yet licenced in the UK. References
Further information may be obtained from www.fluinfo.org |
