A large new national report about the use of neuraminidase inhibitors, or antiviral drugs, to prevent and treat influenza has used studies from The University of Nottingham to establish its facts.
This landmark report has been published by the Academy of Medical Sciences as well as the Wellcome Trust. It cites the Post-Pandemic Review of the anti-Influenza Drug Effectiveness (PRIDE) as well as a review of antiviral drugs sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The report states that using anti-viral drugs known as neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) successfully reduced death rates among hospitalized influenza patients. In addition, the prophylactic use of these same drugs among households also prevents the spread of the influenza.
“This report was much needed to deal with, and settle, recent controversies about when these drugs work and when they don’t; which claims about the absence of effectiveness have been over-exaggerated and where the evidence exists and is valid,” Professor Jonathan Van Tam, from the Health Protection and Influenza Research Group in the University’s School of Medicine, said. “The report deals with all of the issue in an authoritative, evidence-based and well-balanced way.”
The report is titled “Use of Neuraminidase Inhibitors in Influenza” and is available for further reading.
