FLU AND STRUCTURE-BASED DRUG DESIGN

The threat of a catastrophic outbreak of influenza is ever present. Va ccines are only partially effective and the two compounds, amantidine and rimantidine, used clinically against influenza A cause side-effect s and rapid viral resistance. Recent advances bring hope that specific and potent drugs against influenza may soon be available in the clini c. These compounds were designed to inhibit influenza neuraminidase (N A), one of the viral coat glycoproteins, using the crystal structure o f NA which was first published in 1983. In this review, the applicatio n of structure-based drug design approaches to the design of anti-infl uenza agents targeted at NA and haemagglutinin (HA), the other viral s urface glycoprotein, is discussed.