INTRANASAL PIRODAVIR (R77,975) TREATMENT OF RHINOVIRUS COLDS

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessed the ther apeutic efficacy of intranasal pirodavir in naturally occurring rhinov irus colds. Adults with symptoms of less than or equal to 2 days' dura tion were randomly assigned to intranasal sprays of pirodavir (2 mg pe r treatment) or placebo six times daily for 5 days. In people with lab oratory-documented rhinovirus colds (53 in the pirodavir group, 55 in the placebo group), no significant differences in the resolution of re spiratory symptoms were apparent between the groups, The median durati on of illness was 7 days in each group. Similarly, scores for individu al symptoms found no differences in favor of pirodavir during or after treatment. In contrast, reduced frequencies of rhinovirus shedding we re observed in the pirodavir group on day 3 (70 versus 23%; P < 0.001) and day 5 (38 versus 12%; P = 0.002) but not after the cessation of t reatment, on day 7 (19 versus 21%). No pirodavir-resistant viruses wer e recovered from treated individuals. The pirodavir group had higher r ates of nasal dryness, blood in mucus, or unpleasant taste on several study days. In summary, intranasal sprays of pirodavir were associated with significant antiviral effects but no clinical benefit in treatin g naturally occurring rhinovirus colds.