In-vitro and in-vivo efficacy of influenza neuraminidase inhibitors.

Influenza continues to be a major health concern and there is always the threat of a pandemic due to the emergence of a viral strain new to the human population, as exemplified by the avian influenza A/H5N1 virus which was responsible for six deaths in Hong Kong last year. Data reported in the past year, based on in-vitro, in-vivo (animal) and clinical studies, suggest that a new class of antiviral compounds targeting the viral neuraminidase is likely to be useful for the treatment and prevention of influenza virus infections in humans.