The drug Tamiflu which has proven its effectiveness in treatment of the swine flu over the last months is steadily loosing his edge in the fight with the deadly disease. As the use of the preparation on the world wide scale increases the resistant viruses can be found in an increasing number of cases.
Oseltamivir or Tamiflu is a preparation developed by Hoffman-La-Roche. The drug belongs to the class of antiviral preparations called neurominidase inhibitors. The preparations work by blocking an enzyme – neurominidase which is used by the virus to lyse the cellular wall of the infected cell. Thus when the enzyme is inhibited the virus replication cycle is not finished and the spread of the virus to other healthy cells is stopped.
The resistance to popular antiviral Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is set to be high on the agenda during the coming influenza season which is, once again, predicted to be dominated by strains of swine flu.
Experts have warned that the A(H1N1) pandemic virus would return to cause the bulk of flu infections across the country this winter, with fears that rare mutated versions could also be circulating.
According to virologist Professor William Rawlinson, from the University of New South Wales and Sydney’s Prince of Wales Hospital, these strains had developed resistance to Tamiflu.
“A handful of resistant viruses were seen in Australia towards the end of the season last year, and a small number of resistant viruses seen overseas,” Prof Rawlinson said.
“It’s an area that is going to be a focus of this year – making sure that we can detect resistant strains and look for the emergence of resistance to Tamiflu.”
He said alternative drugs would have to be used to treat those who contracted a mutated version of the swine flu.
Professor Robert Booy from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance at the University of Sydney said swine flu would account of up to 75 per cent of all cases of the flu seen in the community this winter.
“We will see a repeat of last year with a large number of people getting relatively mild infection but the number with severe infections will be less than last year. That’s our best guess,” Prof Booy said.
“Given the ongoing attempts around Australia to get more people vaccinated, we may well get on top of this next wave to the point where it is not much more than a standard seasonal level of disease.”
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