Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

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

CDC: Influenza activity increasing across the U.S.

(HealthDay)—Flu season descended on the United States early and hard this winter, with significant increases in flu activity observed over the past month, according to an update issued Jan. 4 by the U.S. Centers for Disease ...

Medications

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 ...

Pediatrics

Take kids to get their flu shots early, experts say

(HealthDay)—As soon as the updated seasonal flu vaccine becomes available, parents should bring children aged 6 months and older to get vaccinated, according to an updated policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

A new approach to deadly influenza outbreaks in nursing homes

(Medical Xpress)—In developed countries people over 65 years old are the most likely to die from an influenza outbreak and people in nursing homes, where the virus is difficult to control, are especially vulnerable.

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Oseltamivir

Oseltamivir (INN) (pronounced /ɒsəlˈtæmɨvɪr/) is a drug that blocks the influenza virus from spreading between cells in the body. Thus it is an antiviral drug that is used in the treatment and prophylaxis of both Influenzavirus A and Influenzavirus B infection. Like zanamivir, oseltamivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor. It acts as a transition-state analogue inhibitor of influenza neuraminidase, preventing progeny virions from detaching from infected cells.

Oseltamivir was the first orally active neuraminidase inhibitor commercially developed. It is a prodrug, which is hydrolysed hepatically to the active metabolite, the free carboxylate of oseltamivir (GS4071). It was developed by US-based Gilead Sciences and is currently marketed by Hoffmann–La Roche (Roche) under the trade name Tamiflu. In Japan, it is marketed by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., which is more than 50% owned by Roche. Oseltamivir is generally available by prescription only.

Roche estimates that 50 million people have been treated with oseltamivir. The majority of these have been in Japan, where an estimated 35 million have been treated. Since June 2009, Roche has been forced to allow other companies to develop competing drugs to Tamiflu, after much speculation about Roche's so-called 'monopoly' of Tamiflu in the UK.[citation needed]

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