What is on the horizon for flu treatment?

Unfortunately, vaccine efficacy for the 2017-2018 season was approximately 36% overall and only 25% against illness caused by influenza A(H3N2), the predominant strain. Because of low vaccine efficacy and a high number of patients with influenza, many patients sought treatment for their symptoms. Ne...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Infectious Disease News 2018-07, Vol.31 (7), p.46-46
Main Author: Brock, Jeff
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
FDA approval
Gene expression
Immunoglobulins
Influenza
RNA polymerase
Seasons
Vaccines
Viruses
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Summary:Unfortunately, vaccine efficacy for the 2017-2018 season was approximately 36% overall and only 25% against illness caused by influenza A(H3N2), the predominant strain. Because of low vaccine efficacy and a high number of patients with influenza, many patients sought treatment for their symptoms. Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) are the only agents recommended for treatment of influenza in the U.S. because most influenza strains are resistant to adamantanes. Since October 2017, the CDC has tested more than 4,600 influenza viruses for resistance to the NAIs. Given the global burden that influenza has on patients, it is imperative to discover new agents that have a different mechanism of action than the NAIs and a low propensity to induce resistance. [...]combination therapy for influenza may be seen in the future, which it is hoped will improve clinical efficacy in human trials.
ISSN:1056-9251