Peramivir
Encyclopedia
Peramivir is an experimental antiviral drug
developed by BioCryst Pharmaceuticals
for the treatment of influenza
. It has been authorized for the emergency use of treatment of certain hospitalized patients with known or suspected 2009 H1N1 influenza.
Peramivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor
, acting as a transition-state
analogue inhibitor of influenza neuraminidase
and thereby preventing new viruses from emerging from infected cells.
The development of peramivir is supported by the US Department of Health and Human Services as part of the US government
's effort to prepare against the threat of an influenza pandemic
.
Peramivir is already available in Japan as RAPIACTA (R) and also available in South Korea as PERAMIFLU. Peramivir is currently the only intravenous option for treating swine flu. The drug is in Phase III studies in US.
peramivir had been effective in treating serious cases of swine flu
. On October 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization
for Peramivir, allowing the use of the drug in intravenous form for hospitalized patients only in cases where the other available methods of treatment are ineffective or unavailable; for instance, if oseltamivir (Tamiflu) resistance develops and a person is unable to take Relenza via the inhaled route. The Emergency Use Authorization
expired on June 23, 2010.
Biocryst also donated 1200 courses of treatment to the US department of Health and Human Services.
According to a research report published in June 2011, a novel variant of swine flu has emerged in Asia with a genetic adaptation giving some resistance to Roche's (ROG.VX) Tamiflu and GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK.L) Relenza, the two mainstay drugs used to tackle the disease. There was no significant reduction in sensitivity to Peramivir.
Antiviral drug
Antiviral drugs are a class of medication used specifically for treating viral infections. Like antibiotics for bacteria, specific antivirals are used for specific viruses...
developed by BioCryst Pharmaceuticals
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. The company focuses on cancer, autoimmune diseases, and viral infections...
for the treatment of influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
. It has been authorized for the emergency use of treatment of certain hospitalized patients with known or suspected 2009 H1N1 influenza.
Peramivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor
Neuraminidase inhibitor
Neuraminidase inhibitors are a class of antiviral drugs targeted at the influenza virus, which work by blocking the function of the viral neuraminidase protein, thus preventing the virus from reproducing by budding from the host cell....
, acting as a transition-state
Transition state
The transition state of a chemical reaction is a particular configuration along the reaction coordinate. It is defined as the state corresponding to the highest energy along this reaction coordinate. At this point, assuming a perfectly irreversible reaction, colliding reactant molecules will always...
analogue inhibitor of influenza neuraminidase
Neuraminidase
Neuraminidase enzymes are glycoside hydrolase enzymes that cleave the glycosidic linkages of neuraminic acids. Neuraminidase enzymes are a large family, found in a range of organisms. The most commonly known neuraminidase is the viral neuraminidase, a drug target for the prevention of the spread...
and thereby preventing new viruses from emerging from infected cells.
The development of peramivir is supported by the US Department of Health and Human Services as part of the US government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
's effort to prepare against the threat of an influenza pandemic
Influenza pandemic
An influenza pandemic is an epidemic of an influenza virus that spreads on a worldwide scale and infects a large proportion of the human population. In contrast to the regular seasonal epidemics of influenza, these pandemics occur irregularly, with the 1918 Spanish flu the most serious pandemic in...
.
Peramivir is already available in Japan as RAPIACTA (R) and also available in South Korea as PERAMIFLU. Peramivir is currently the only intravenous option for treating swine flu. The drug is in Phase III studies in US.
Use in treating Influenza A (H1N1) "Swine Flu"
In October 2009, it was reported that the experimental antiviral drugAntiviral drug
Antiviral drugs are a class of medication used specifically for treating viral infections. Like antibiotics for bacteria, specific antivirals are used for specific viruses...
peramivir had been effective in treating serious cases of swine flu
2009 flu pandemic
The 2009 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the second of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus , albeit in a new version...
. On October 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization
Emergency Use Authorization
An Emergency Use Authorization , in the United States is a legal means for the Food and Drug Administration to approve new drugs or new indications for previously approved drugs during a declared emergency.-Response to swine influenza epidemic:...
for Peramivir, allowing the use of the drug in intravenous form for hospitalized patients only in cases where the other available methods of treatment are ineffective or unavailable; for instance, if oseltamivir (Tamiflu) resistance develops and a person is unable to take Relenza via the inhaled route. The Emergency Use Authorization
Emergency Use Authorization
An Emergency Use Authorization , in the United States is a legal means for the Food and Drug Administration to approve new drugs or new indications for previously approved drugs during a declared emergency.-Response to swine influenza epidemic:...
expired on June 23, 2010.
Biocryst also donated 1200 courses of treatment to the US department of Health and Human Services.
According to a research report published in June 2011, a novel variant of swine flu has emerged in Asia with a genetic adaptation giving some resistance to Roche's (ROG.VX) Tamiflu and GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK.L) Relenza, the two mainstay drugs used to tackle the disease. There was no significant reduction in sensitivity to Peramivir.
Dosage and administration
Initial treatment courses are for 5 to 10 days duration. Treatment beyond 10 days is permitted depending on clinical presentation such as critical illness (e.g., respiratory failure or intensive care unit admission), continued viral shedding or unresolved clinical influenza illness.External links
- Peramivir: Requirements for Administration under EUA
- BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- Peramivir CDC/FDA EUA request form
- Peramivir Phase III Clinical Trials
- http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm216252.htm
- http://www.shionogi.co.jp/ir_en/news/detail/e_100126.pdf