Antivirals - Influenza

There are two principal classes of antivirals licensed for prophylaxis and treatment of influenza, those targeted against the M2 proton channel and those against the neuraminidase. An inhibitors of the membrane fusion activity of the HA is licensed in a number of countries, and an inhibitor of the RNA polymerase has recently received a restricted license.

Amantadine (Symmetrel®), developed in the 1960s, and (Flumadine®) inhibit the function of the M2 protein of influenza A in virus uncoating, but are not effective against influenza B. They have not been widely used and resistance of currently circulating A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) viruses has removed their usefulness against seasonal influenza.

Zanamivir (Relenza®) and (Tamiflu®) were developed in the 1990s against the neuraminidase, which is involved in the release and spread of progeny virus. They are effective against both influenza A and B viruses, and are widely available. Whereas zanamivir is administered by inhalation, oseltamivir is administered orally and has proved to be more widely accepted, and has been the principal choice for antiviral stockpiles as a component of pandemic preparedness. However resistance to oseltamivir has occurred more frequently than resistance to zanamivir. Two other neuraminidase inhibitors have been licensed more recently: laninamivir (Inavir®) a long-lasting analogue of zanamivir, administered by inhalation as a single therapeutic dose, has been licensed in Japan; peramivir, which possesses the active moieties of both zanamivir and oseltamivir, has been licensed in Japan (Rapiacta®) and Korea (PeramiFlu®) for intravenous administration.

Arbidol falls within a third class of antivirals, which targets the membrane fusion activity of the HA in vitro. It exhibits a broad spectrum of antiviral activity in vitro, including against influenza A and B, and has been shown to have immunomodulatory activity in vivo; the basis of its clinical efficacy against influenza has therefore yet to be established. Arbidol was initially licensed for use against influenza in Russia and has since been licensed in China and a number of other countries.

Favipiravir (T705) targets the RNA polymerase and has a broad spectrum of activity against a variety of RNA virus families and is effective against all three types of influenza, A, B and C. It has been approved in Japan for use against novel or re-emerging influenza viruses.

A variety of other antivirals, against both virus and host targets, are in development by a number of companies, including broadly-reactive monoclonal antibodies, as illustrated by the ‘landscape’ of influenza antiviral development in the USA (Fig1. below).

Fig 1. Influenza Antiviral Landscape 2014, provided by the Biomedical Advanced Research & Development Authority (BARDA), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).

Pre-Clinical Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Market Approved

M-2 Blockers

Flumadine Symmetrel (Rimantadine) ()

NA Inhibitors

Tamiphosphor Laninamivir Zanamivir Tamiflu Inavir

Relenza RapiActa/Rapivab

Other

Viral

Targets Virazole Cap Snatch/ TM FluCide Flufirvitide-3 (ribavirin) Endonuclease TCAD Combo T-705 (Pol in)

Matrix M1 AVI-7100 VX-787 inhibitor

Antibodies Genentech

Fabenflu FI6v3 mAb- Equine pAb Anti-Flu A Anti-NA TCN-032 Other HA Grp1+2 (H5N1) mAb-HA Grp1+2 mAb-M2e Grp 1+2 Inhaled

VIS410 CR6261 CR8020 IV Anti-HA Anti-HA mAb-HA Grp1+2 mAb-HA Grp1 mAb-HA Grp2 Oral

University

of Hong Kong

CR9114 MAb-HA Anti Influenza IVIG CF -404 mAb-HA CT-P27 Hyperimmune mAb-HAGrp1+2 Grp 1 Influenza A+B Grp1+2+B mAb-HA Grp1+2 IVIG (pH1N1)

Host

Targets

Homspera CC10 protein PUR003 Fludase Nitazoxanide (Neurokinin-1) EV-077

GP1002 NTHi Surfaxin (pro-imf) Alferon LDO

Archaeon Acetyl-salicylic 1 Eritoran Anti-ANGPTL4 acid (ASA) TLR4 Antagonist Flu+Pneumonia Nf-B Inhibitor Updated 02/24/2015 BARDA