Oseltamivir (Tamiflu, Antiviral Drug)

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) Facts:

• Antiviral drug that slows the spread of influenza virus between cells in the body.
• It stops newly produced virus from chemically cutting (neuraminidase inhibitor) ties with its host cell.
• Early treatment is important as neuraminidase protein inhibition is more effective within the first 48 hours.
  
• Worldwide, from October 2009, only 39 of > 10,000 samples of 2009 pandemic H1N1 swine flu have shown resistance to Oseltamivir.

Oseltamivir Clinical Uses:

• Prevention & treatment of influenzavirus A & influenzavirus B infection.
• Oseltamivir is approved for use in persons age 1 year & over.
• The usual adult dosage, for active infection, is 75 mg twice daily for 5 days.
• The treatment should begin within 2 days of the appearance of flu symptoms.
• Reduced doses are needed for children & people with kidney impairment.
  
• Can be given as a preventive, i.e. community outbreak or close contact with flu case.
  
• The prophylaxis dose is 75 mg once daily (people aged 13 years & older), safe & effective for up to 6 weeks.
  

Oseltamivir Pharmacology:

• Taken orally as a pro-drug which becomes active after passing through the liver.

Oseltamivir Side Effects:

• Common adverse drug reactions (ADRs) (occurring in >1% of trial participants) include:
  
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea,
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
• Rare ADRs include:
  
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Hepatitis & elevated liver enzymes
  • Rash
  • Stevens-Johnson syndrome

Oseltamivir Commercial Factors:

• Sold under the trade name Tamiflu.
• Developed by C.U. Kim, W. Lew and X. Chen of US based Gilead Sciences (hold patent until 2016).
• Marketed worldwide by the pharmaceutical company Hoffmann–La Roche (Roche).
• Marketed by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., in Japan, which is > 50% owned by Roche.

Oseltamivir History:

• First orally active neuraminidase inhibitor commercially developed.

Posted by ALCHEssMIST.
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