COMBINATION THERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF INFLUENZA

Abstract

Compositions and methods for treating one or more symptoms of influenza, preferably influenza due to infection with influenza A (H5N1) are provided. It has been discovered that administration of a combination of a neuraminidase inhibitor with two immunomodulators increases survivability in subjects 24, 48, or even 72 hours post infection compared to administration of the neuraminidase inhibitor alone. A preferred neuraminidase inhibitor is zanamivir. Preferred immunomodulators include, but are not limited to celecoxib and mesalazine. Another embodiment provides a method for treating influenza, preferably, influenza due to infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) by administering to subject infected with the influenza virus, an effective amount of a neuraminidase inhibitor to inhibit or reduce budding of the influenza virus from infected cells of the subject, and an effective amount of at least two immunomodulators effective to reduce or inhibit one or more symptoms of inflammation in the subject.