Experimental Drug Promises to Kill the Flu Virus in a Day

(From The Daily Mail)

Scientists in Japan said they have developed an experimental pill that kills the influenza virus in 24 hours, three times faster than what it takes Tamiflu to rid the virus in sick patients. Tamiflu is one of the most popular drugs to treat people sick with the flu.

Researchers said a late-stage trial on American and Japanese flu patients showed that Shionogi & Co. compound wiped out the virus in as little as a day, according to the Wall Street Journal.

It also only requires a single does, while Tamiflu requires two doses a day, for five days. Both drugs take roughly the same amount of time to completely contain flu symptoms, but researchers said the experimental compound provides instant relief to patients.

Shinogi, a Japanese pharmaceutical company, said the drugs fast response to killing off the virus is important because it reduces the risk of contagious it is.

The World Health Organization told the outlet that the Shionogi & Co. compound could change the way doctors and nurses treat people sick with the flu.  ‘The data that we’ve seen looks very promising,’ he said. 

Shinogai’s CEO Isao Teshirogi said the compound works by blocking the flu from hijacking other cells in the body, thus keeping it from spreading. Takeki Uehara, who led the compound’s development, told the Wall Street Journal it was developed by researchers studying an anti-HIV drug that does the same thing. 

‘So we said: ‘Why don’t we build on our HIV knowledge to find a way to treat the flu?’ And we did,’ she said.

Shinoagi and Roche, the company that makes Tamiflu, said they are in the process of conducting a second-stage of global trials. They will then apply for US approval this summer. It could take up until next year to get a decision, Shinogai said. 

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