Therapeutics: Influenza A virus hemagglutinin

INDICATION: Influenza virus

Cell and mouse studies have identified pentacyclic triterpenoid analogs that could help treat influenza infections and have lower risk for resistance than amantadine. In vitro, the pentacyclic triterpenoids analogs bound hemagglutinin with micromolar affinity. In cultured influenza virus-infected cells, the lead pentacyclic triterpenoid caused sustained inhibition of viral plaques through multiple passages whereas the virus developed resistance to generic antiviral amantadine by the fourth passage. In mice, the lead compound protected all animals against a lethal influenza challenge. Next steps could include optimizing the lead pentacyclic triterpenoid and testing it in additional models of influenza infection. ...