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Possible flu inhibitor discovered

16 Apr 2009

Pharmaceutical researchers in Hong Kong and the US have identified a synthetic compound that appears to inhibit the replication of influenza viruses.

It is believed the substance may be effective in stopping the H5N1 bird flu virus and is one of 20 compounds with the potential to restrict the proliferation of the condition.

Compound one - or NSC89853 - was discovered during screening of some 230,000 substances catalogued with the US National Cancer Institute.

The discovery comes at a time when scientists are growing apprehensive about influenza virus treatments like oseltamivir losing its effectiveness against certain strains.

University of Hong Kong microbiologist Leo Poon explained the discovery is different from the current drug, but acts in the same way.

"An analogy would be like we have a door with a keyhole, but the hole has changed and the key, in this case oseltamivir, can''t lock the door anymore," he said.

The researchers cautioned it could take as much as eight years for any new drug to hit the market.

In other news, Sanofi-Aventis has announced its intention to acquire BiPar Sciences.