New antiviral drugs for respiratory virosis

Neuraminidase inhibitors: Zanamivir, the leading neuraminidase inhibitor ha s been awarded marketing approval in France for curative treatment of flu. It has been demonstrated that zanamivir reduces the duration of symptoms an d the frequency of recourse to antibiotics. Indications for zanamivir: Besides early prescription for curative treatmen t of flu, as soon as the first symptoms occur, particularly in vaccinated e lderly patients (vaccination is effective in only 70 to 80% of cases), zana mivir could also be used as a preventive treatment in subjects exposed to a n index case. Early trials with pleconaril: Pleconaril is active against picomaviruses an d appears to have interesting efficacy against exceptionally severe enterov irus infections. Conversely, trials conducted in cases of upper respiratory tract infections and meningitis caused by enteroviruses have shown modest results.