News tagged with oseltamivir

Scientists explain how they created bird flu that spreads easily among mammals

Scientists have created versions of the H5N1 bird flu that spread easily among mammals through droplets in sneezes and have concluded that the deadly virus could trigger a global pandemic in humans.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Jun 22, 2012 | 4.2 / 5 (6) | 0 |

Swine flu strain that is resistant to Tamiflu is spreading more easily

The flu season is still young in the United States and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere, but Australia wrapped up its flu season months ago, and public health officials there have some disturbing news to report: The version ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Dec 29, 2011 | 5 / 5 (2) | 0

Tamiflu doesn't offer relief promised, study finds

For the nearly 62 million Americans infected with influenza each year, oeseltamivir, commonly called Tamiflu, promises to offer relief. New research from the University of Georgia finds the medication may not have all of ...

Medications Oct 26, 2012 | 4 / 5 (2) | 1 |

Popular flu medication's neurologic side effects in children studied

Oseltamivir is the weapon of choice for preventing influenza infection from taking hold, but like any other drug, it also has the potential for adverse effects. Children in particular are susceptible ...

Medical research Sep 09, 2011 | 5 / 5 (1) | 0

Oseltamivir

Oseltamivir INN ( /ɒsəlˈtæmɨvɪər/), an antiviral drug, slows the spread of influenza (flu) virus between cells in the body by stopping the virus from chemically cutting ties with its host cell; median time to symptom alleviation is reduced by 0.5–1 day. The drug is sold under the trade name Tamiflu, and is taken orally in capsules or as a suspension. It has been used to treat and prevent influenza A virus and influenza B virus infection in over 50 million people since 1999.[citation needed]

Oseltamivir is a prodrug, a (relatively) inactive chemical which is converted into its active form by metabolic process after it is taken into the body. It was the first orally active neuraminidase inhibitor commercially developed.[citation needed] It was developed by C.U. Kim, W. Lew, and X. Chen of US-based Gilead Sciences, and is currently marketed by Hoffmann–La Roche (Roche). In Japan, it is marketed by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., which is more than 50% owned by Roche.

As of December 2010[update], the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 314 samples of the prevalent 2009 pandemic H1N1 flu tested worldwide have shown resistance to oseltamivir.