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Article
Combinations of Oseltamivir and Peramivir for the Treatment of Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infections in Cell Culture and in Mice
Antiviral Res
  • Donald F. Smee, Utah State University
  • B L Hurst, Utah State University
  • M H Wong
  • E B Tarbet
  • Y S Babu
  • K Klumpp
  • John D Morrey, Utah State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2010
Abstract

Oseltamivir and peramivir are being considered for combination treatment of serious influenza virus infections in humans. Both compounds are influenza virus neuraminidase inhibitors, and since peramivir binds tighter to the enzyme than oseltamivir carboxylate (the active form of oseltamivir), the possibility exists that antagonistic interactions might result when using the two compounds together. To study this possibility, combination chemotherapy experiments were conducted in vitro and in mice infected with influenza A/NWS/33 (H1N1) virus. Treatment of infected MDCK cells was performed with combinations of oseltamivir carboxylate and peramivir at 0.32–100 μM for 3 days, followed by virus yield determinations. Additive drug interactions with a narrow region of synergy were found using the MacSynergy method. In a viral neuraminidase assay with combinations of inhibitors at 0.01–10 nM, no significant antagonistic or synergistic interactions were observed across the range of concentrations. Infected mice were treated twice daily for 5 days starting 2 h prior to virus challenge using drug doses of 0.05–0.4 mg/kg/day. Consistent and statistically significant increases in the numbers of survivors were seen when twice daily oral oseltamivir (0.4 mg/kg/day) was combined with twice daily intramuscular peramivir (0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg/day) compared to single drug treatments. The data demonstrate that combinations of oseltamivir and peramivir perform better than suboptimal doses of each compound alone to treat influenza infections in mice. Treatment with these two compounds should be considered as an option.

Citation Information
Smee, D. F., B. L. Hurst, M. H. Wong, E. B. Tarbet, Y. S. Babu, K. Klumpp, and J. D. Morrey. 2010. Combinations of oseltamivir and peramivir for the treatment of influenza A (H1N1) virus infections in cell culture and in mice. Antiviral Res 88:38-44. PMID20633577 PMCPMC2946506