What is the specific action of the drug zanamivir?

The proposed mechanism of action of zanamivir is via inhibition of influenza virus neuraminidase with the possibility of alteration of virus particle aggregation and release. By binding and inhibiting the neuraminidase protein, the drug renders the influenza virus unable to escape its host cell and infect others.

How zanamivir inhibits the spreading of virus?

Oseltamivir, zanamivir, and peramivir are sialic acid analogues that inhibit influenza virus by competitively interacting with the neuraminidases of influenza A and B viruses. Influenza neuraminidase cleaves terminal sialic acid residues and destroys the receptors recognized by viral hemagglutinin.

What type of enzyme inhibitor is zanamivir?

Zanamivir is an inhibitor of the influenza neuraminidase enzyme and is given by inhalation as therapy and prophylaxis against influenza A and B.

What is the difference between oseltamivir and zanamivir?

Zanamivir is indicated for use against influenza A/H1N1 virus strains that are resistant to oseltamivir. In conclusion, compared with zanamivir, oseltamivir was shown to be less effective against influenza B but more effective against influenza A/H3N2.

How effective is zanamivir?

Zanamivir provided a 67% efficacy in prevention laboratory-confirmed clinical influenza versus placebo, p < 0.001. It also provided 84% efficacy against laboratory-confirmed influenza with fever, p = 0.001.

Is zanamivir a transition state analog?

Zanamivir is an analog of sialic acid and acts as a classical competitive inhibitor to prevent substrate binding to the unliganded enzyme. Oseltamivir is a transition-state analog of sialic acid cleavage and thus interferes with neuraminidase conformational changes needed to allow substrate binding.

Who made zanamivir?

Abstract. Zanamivir, a neuraminidase inhibitor under license from Biota, has been developed and launched by Glaxo Wellcome for the treatment of influenza virus infection [277127].

When was zanamivir invented?

Zanamivir was first made in 1989 by scientists led by Peter Colman and Joseph Varghese at the Australian CSIRO, in collaboration with the Victorian College of Pharmacy, and the Monash University. Zanamivir was the first of the neuraminidase inhibitors.

Who created zanamivir?

How does oseltamivir and zanamivir work?

The NAI drugs, zanamivir and oseltamivir, bind to the active site on the viral neuraminidase, blocking its activity. Thus, virus particles cannot exit the cells as easily, and they tend to clump and not disperse. This impedes their ability to infect more cells and attenuates the patient’s infection.

Is zanamivir an antibiotic?

Frequently asked questions about Relenza (zanamivir) Is Relenza (zanamivir) an antibiotic? No, Relenza (zanamivir) is an antiviral and only works against the influenza virus. Antibiotics are used to fight bacterial infections.

Why is zanamivir inhaled?

To help prevent the spread of influenza in people living in the same household, zanamivir is usually inhaled once a day for 10 days. To help prevent the spread of influenza in a community, zanamivir is usually inhaled once a day for 28 days.