Save
Email
Print
ShareNov. 3, 2010 — In adults with seasonal influenza A virus infection, the combination of the drugs oseltamivir (tamiflu) and zanamivir (relenza) is less effective than oseltamivir monotherapy and not significantly more effective than zanamivir monotherapy, according to a new study.
This key finding comes from a randomized, placebo-controlled trial -- in adults presenting with influenza symptoms at general practices throughout France during the seasonal influenza epidemic in 2008-2009 -- carried out by Catherine Leport from the University of Paris, France, and colleagues, and reported in PLoS Medicine.
In the past few years oseltamivir and zanamivir have been key drugs for limiting the impact of seasonal influenza both in individuals (by reducing morbidity and mortality) and collectively (by slowing the virus' spread to buy time for vaccine production). In order to inform future influenza pandemic planning, the authors compared the effectiveness of monotherapy with either oseltamivir or zanamivir with the effectiveness of an oseltamivir-zanamivir combination.
Adults who visited their GP with symptoms of an influenza-like illness for less than 36 hours and who had a positive influenza A rapid test were randomized to one of three arms: 1) oral oseltamivir 75 mg twice daily plus zanamivir 10 mg by inhalation twice daily 2) oral oseltamivir 75 mg twice daily plus inhaled placebo or 3) zanamivir 10 mg by inhalation twice daily plus oral placebo. 541 patients were enrolled in the study (192 in group 1; 176 in group 2; and 173 in group 3) of whom 447 were infected with influenza A. Overall the oseltamivir-zanamivir combination was both virologically and clinically less effective than oseltamivir monotherapy. In addition, the clinical effects of the oseltamivir-zanamivir combination on time to resolution of symptoms were not significantly different from that of zanamivir monotherapy.
The authors conclude that their findings call for caution in the use of the oseltamivir-zanamivir combination in treatment of adult outpatients with influenza. Furthermore, as the virological effects of oseltamivir monotherapy over zanamivir monotherapy were superior in this trial, the authors say:
"Oseltamivir should be the recommended primary anti-influenza treatment during influenza seasons with predominant H3N2 viruses naturally susceptible to oseltamivir."
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Public Library of Science, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Benjamin J. Cowling, Xavier Duval, Sylvie van der Werf, Thierry Blanchon, Anne Mosnier, Maude Bouscambert-Duchamp, Annick Tibi, Vincent Enouf, Cécile Charlois-Ou, Corine Vincent, Laurent Andreoletti, Florence Tubach, Bruno Lina, France Mentré, Catherine Leport. Efficacy of Oseltamivir-Zanamivir Combination Compared to Each Monotherapy for Seasonal Influenza: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. PLoS Medicine, 2010; 7 (11): e1000362 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000362
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
more 
