Post by Shadow on Sept 23, 2005 21:15:39 GMT -5
The Globe and Mail
By HELEN BRANSWELL
Wednesday, September 21, 2005 Posted at 9:02 PM EDT
Canadian Press
Toronto — Human flu viruses are becoming increasingly resistant to the class of drugs known as adamantanes, one of only two existing classes of flu drugs, a new study released Thursday shows.
The authors say their findings call into question the future usefulness of the adamantane or M2 inhibitor drugs — a warning echoed by a leading antiviral expert who was not involved in the work.
That independent expert, Dr. Frederick Hayden suggested that in light of the findings the drugs amantadine and rimantadine should not play a significant role in drug stockpiles put together to help a country weather a flu pandemic.
“I think that these data present real concerns about how can we use this class in the future. And it certainly says it makes little sense to make it an important part of drug stockpiles for pandemic response,” said Dr. Hayden, a scientist at the University of Virginia who is on secondment to the World Health Organization.
By HELEN BRANSWELL
Wednesday, September 21, 2005 Posted at 9:02 PM EDT
Canadian Press
Toronto — Human flu viruses are becoming increasingly resistant to the class of drugs known as adamantanes, one of only two existing classes of flu drugs, a new study released Thursday shows.
The authors say their findings call into question the future usefulness of the adamantane or M2 inhibitor drugs — a warning echoed by a leading antiviral expert who was not involved in the work.
That independent expert, Dr. Frederick Hayden suggested that in light of the findings the drugs amantadine and rimantadine should not play a significant role in drug stockpiles put together to help a country weather a flu pandemic.
“I think that these data present real concerns about how can we use this class in the future. And it certainly says it makes little sense to make it an important part of drug stockpiles for pandemic response,” said Dr. Hayden, a scientist at the University of Virginia who is on secondment to the World Health Organization.