Influenza antivirals and their role in pandemic preparedness

Abstract

<p>Effective antivirals provide crucial benefits during the early phase of an <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.eproxy.lib.hku.hk/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/pandemic-influenza" title="Learn more about influenza pandemic from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">influenza pandemic</a>, when vaccines are still being developed and manufactured. Currently, two classes of viral protein–targeting drugs, <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.eproxy.lib.hku.hk/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/sialidase-inhibitor" title="Learn more about neuraminidase inhibitors from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">neuraminidase inhibitors</a> and <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.eproxy.lib.hku.hk/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/polymerase" title="Learn more about polymerase from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">polymerase</a> inhibitors, are approved for influenza <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.eproxy.lib.hku.hk/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/therapeutic-procedure" title="Learn more about treatment from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">treatment</a> and post-exposure prophylaxis. Resistance to both classes has been documented, highlighting the need to develop novel antiviral options that may include both viral and host-targeted inhibitors. Such efforts will form the basis of management of <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.eproxy.lib.hku.hk/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/seasonal-influenza" title="Learn more about seasonal influenza from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">seasonal influenza</a> infections and of strategic planning for future influenza pandemics. This review focuses on the two classes of approved antivirals, their drawbacks, and ongoing work to characterize novel agents or combination therapy approaches to address these shortcomings. The importance of these topics in the ongoing process of influenza pandemic planning is also discussed.<br></p>