Tamiflu's Efficacy H5N1 Avian Flu Captain Trips?
On 08/11 and 08/30 we took exception to the supposed efficacy of Tamiflu and made mention of the Donald Rumsfeld connection. Now that many nations have spent billions stockpiling Tamiflu, the following news is released.
Two new deaths, added to a similar case in October, showed the H5N1 virus was resistant to oseltamivir, sold under the name Tamiflu, according to an article released by the New England Journal of Medicine.
One of the two patients who died was a 13-year-old Vietnamese, after a day of fever and cough, she died eight days later. The other, 18, died three weeks after the onset of symptoms.
Tests done in Hong Kong showed the virus infecting her had mutated in a way known to make it immune to Tamiflu.
The same thing happened with another patient treated by the same group. And four of eight patients they treated with Tamiflu, made by Roche AG under the generic name oseltamivir, died despite treatment with the drug.
Tamiflu does not block neuraminidase perfectly and has to make it stretch a little. The structure of Tamiflu is such that several mutations are possible that allow for the neuraminidase molecule to still work and the virus to remain viable.
The study said, "besides allowing the infection to proceed, such incomplete suppression provides opportunities for drug resistance to develop. Tamiflu may kill most, but not all of the virus in a person's body. The surviving virus is then resistant to the drug."
Two new deaths, added to a similar case in October, showed the H5N1 virus was resistant to oseltamivir, sold under the name Tamiflu, according to an article released by the New England Journal of Medicine.
One of the two patients who died was a 13-year-old Vietnamese, after a day of fever and cough, she died eight days later. The other, 18, died three weeks after the onset of symptoms.
Tests done in Hong Kong showed the virus infecting her had mutated in a way known to make it immune to Tamiflu.
The same thing happened with another patient treated by the same group. And four of eight patients they treated with Tamiflu, made by Roche AG under the generic name oseltamivir, died despite treatment with the drug.
Tamiflu does not block neuraminidase perfectly and has to make it stretch a little. The structure of Tamiflu is such that several mutations are possible that allow for the neuraminidase molecule to still work and the virus to remain viable.
The study said, "besides allowing the infection to proceed, such incomplete suppression provides opportunities for drug resistance to develop. Tamiflu may kill most, but not all of the virus in a person's body. The surviving virus is then resistant to the drug."
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