Molecular Playground/Relenza
From Proteopedia
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Revision as of 21:16, 14 March 2010
Relenza is an anti-influenza drug. It must be injected, whereas the more popular anti-influenza drug Tamiflu can be taken by mouth. However, many of the influenza viruses that cause disease in humans have developed resistance to Tamiflu. This is the result of widespread overuse of Tamiflu. Public health agencies in many countries have stockpiled Tamiflu at great expense, but these stockpiles are now of limited usefulness. Luckily the H1N1 swine flu that caused the pandemic starting in mid-2009 was sensitive to Tamiflu. However, it is only a matter of time before it, too, becomes resistant, and Relenza becomes the last resort.
