Influenza is an acute respiratory disease. Influenza A, B, and C viruses can all cause influenza. Generally, it occurs during local outbreaks or seasonally. Firstly, the clinical disease has a short incubation period. Secondly, it depends on the characteristics of the virus and individual host, symptoms range from asymptomatic to fulminant. Meanwhile, Influenza A viruses can also cause sporadic infection, or spread globally when new strains emerge in humans from animal hosts. We need new influenza prevention and treatment approaches to manage seasonal influenza epidemics and pandemics.

 Oseltamivir phosphate (GS 4104) is a neuraminidase inhibitor for influenza A and B research.

First of all, Oseltamivir phosphate is a prodrug. And it is absorbable from the gastrointestinal tract after oral administration. Secondly, Oseltamivir phosphate is a widely used anti-influenza sialidase inhibitor. Oseltamivir phosphate (305 μM) significantly decreases the metabolic activity of CMA07 and CMT-U27 cell lines. Meanwhile, the researchers assess the effect of Oseltamivir phosphate on CMA07 and CMT-U27 programmed cell death by TUNEL assay. Oseltamivir phosphate treatment (305 μM, 24 h) significantly increases CMA07 and CMT-U27 DNA fragmentation, suggesting the promotion of programmed cell death. In addition, Oseltamivir phosphate-treated mice present significantly more inflammatory infiltrate in primary tumors in vivo. Using Ki-67 antigen and caspase-3 protein to assess CMT-U27 xenograft tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis respectively. There are no differences in Ki-67 and caspase 3 expressions between Oseltamivir-treated and non-treated mice.

In short, Oseltamivir phosphate is an influenza A/B neuraminidase inhibitor.

Reference:

[1] Huang H, et al. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2016 Aug 8:1-5.

[2] De Oliveira JT, et al. PLoS One. 2015 Apr 7;10(4):e0121590.