Tc
Fri, Jan-20-06, 17:16
http://www.newsinferno.com/storypages/01-20-2006~001.html
Controversial Study Questions Effectiveness of Tamiflu Date
Published: January 20, 2006 Source: Newsinferno News Staff
According to a controversial study published yesterday in the
British medical journal the Lancet, Tamiflu and similar
antiviral drugs should not be broadly used during the flu
season or to treat an epidemic of avian-flu because they are
simply not as effective as they have been represented to be.
The study, funded by England's Health Department and the
Piemonte region of Italy, was conducted under the sponsorship
of the Cochrane Collaboration, a nonprofit organization that
provides information to doctors, hospitals and other
individuals.
The research was conducted by Dr. Tom Jefferson, an
epidemiologist based in Rome, who analyzed data from 50
clinical trials of a number of flu medications including
Tamiflu.
Results indicated that both Tamiflu (Roche Holding AG) and
Relenza, a similar drug produced by GlaxoSmithKline PLC, are
effective at ameliorating traditional symptoms of seasonal
influenza (called virus type A or B). However, these drugs
don't treat other viruses that trigger "flu-like" symptoms and
which cause many cases of "flu-like illness."
While two studies Jefferson considered showed Tamiflu
prevented transmission of the influenza virus between family
members, others showed the drug doesn't completely stop the
virus being "shed" from an infected person, meaning sick
people may still infect others even while taking Tamiflu. This
suggests that the drug would not be effective at controlling
the spread of the virus during an epidemic.
Nevertheless, Jefferson said he does recommend the use of
Tamiflu during an epidemic since instances of influenza A
or B will increase, thereby increasing the effectiveness
of the drug in terms of the number of people who might
benefit from it.
For treating the regular flu, Dr. Jefferson said that doctors
should not over-use Tamiflu because people often do not know
the exact cause of flu-like symptoms. If, without knowing
precisely what kind of illness people have, they prescribe
Tamiflu or Relenza to those who don't have the A or B virus,
resistance to the drug will increase and it will eventually
lose its value and effectiveness as an antiviral.
Only last week, health officials from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) advised U.S. doctors not to use
the antiviral drugs amantadine and rimantadine because this
season's dominant flu strain has become resistant to them
thereby greatly limiting their effectiveness.
CDC Director, Julie Gerberding, reports that tests of 120
samples of H3N2, the dominant flu strain affecting the U.S.,
indicated the virus was resistant to the generic antivirals
amantadine and rimantadine in 91%.
This represents a dramatic increase over last year, when only
11% of cases did not respond to the two drugs.
The CDC recommends instead that doctors prescribe either,
Tamiflu or Relenza. These are newer medications that are still
effective against the virus.
Although the two drugs are older and less frequently
prescribed, the CDC believes it is important to announce the
information because many older medications are still
prescribed by many doctors and in certain situations such as
to nursing home patients during a flu outbreak to prevent
infection.
The CDC is unsure why these particular flu strains became
resistant. Some experts believe, however, that the virus may
have mutated as a result of the drugs' overuse and
availability on an over-the-counter basis in other countries.
Tamiflu and Relenza are in high demand internationally as
people buying supplies to protect themselves in the event
that the avian flu mutates into a form easily passed
between humans.
While non-avian flu cases are prevalent throughout seven U.S.
states, predominantly in the South and Southwest, Gerberding
said it was too early to determine if this year's flu season
was at its peak. She assured the public that there was
sufficient supply of both Tamiflu and Relenza to treat the
generic flu virus this winter.
This latest study claiming limited effectiveness for Tamiflu
and Relenza has provoked criticism from both health officials
and Roche Holding AG (Tamiflu). Up until recently, consumers
and health officials considered Tamiflu the best protection
against both the regular flu and an outbreak of the avian-flu.
Roche Holding stated that said it strongly disagreed with the
study's "inappropriate" conclusions. It claimed that Tamiflu
would be effective at treating the flu this winter.
The World Health Organization was also reluctant to approve
the study's conclusions. It announced that it would not amend
its direction that countries stockpile Tamiflu to protect
against an epidemic.
However, both Roche and WHO admitted that currently there are
no large studies that prove Tamiflu is effective at protecting
humans against bird flu. They did cite animal studies that
suggest the drug will protect humans against the H5N1
avian-flu virus
As indicated by last week's advisory, the CDC says
neuraminidase inhibitors like Tamiflu remain effective despite
the resistance of many current seasonal flu viruses to older
antiviral medications.
The CDC advises that they should be given to anyone with "a
potentially life-threatening influenza-related illness" as
well as people at risk of complications. The CDC also
recommends the use of Tamiflu as a precautionary measure for
flu outbreaks that occur in nursing homes.
---
TC
Controversial Study Questions Effectiveness of Tamiflu Date
Published: January 20, 2006 Source: Newsinferno News Staff
According to a controversial study published yesterday in the
British medical journal the Lancet, Tamiflu and similar
antiviral drugs should not be broadly used during the flu
season or to treat an epidemic of avian-flu because they are
simply not as effective as they have been represented to be.
The study, funded by England's Health Department and the
Piemonte region of Italy, was conducted under the sponsorship
of the Cochrane Collaboration, a nonprofit organization that
provides information to doctors, hospitals and other
individuals.
The research was conducted by Dr. Tom Jefferson, an
epidemiologist based in Rome, who analyzed data from 50
clinical trials of a number of flu medications including
Tamiflu.
Results indicated that both Tamiflu (Roche Holding AG) and
Relenza, a similar drug produced by GlaxoSmithKline PLC, are
effective at ameliorating traditional symptoms of seasonal
influenza (called virus type A or B). However, these drugs
don't treat other viruses that trigger "flu-like" symptoms and
which cause many cases of "flu-like illness."
While two studies Jefferson considered showed Tamiflu
prevented transmission of the influenza virus between family
members, others showed the drug doesn't completely stop the
virus being "shed" from an infected person, meaning sick
people may still infect others even while taking Tamiflu. This
suggests that the drug would not be effective at controlling
the spread of the virus during an epidemic.
Nevertheless, Jefferson said he does recommend the use of
Tamiflu during an epidemic since instances of influenza A
or B will increase, thereby increasing the effectiveness
of the drug in terms of the number of people who might
benefit from it.
For treating the regular flu, Dr. Jefferson said that doctors
should not over-use Tamiflu because people often do not know
the exact cause of flu-like symptoms. If, without knowing
precisely what kind of illness people have, they prescribe
Tamiflu or Relenza to those who don't have the A or B virus,
resistance to the drug will increase and it will eventually
lose its value and effectiveness as an antiviral.
Only last week, health officials from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) advised U.S. doctors not to use
the antiviral drugs amantadine and rimantadine because this
season's dominant flu strain has become resistant to them
thereby greatly limiting their effectiveness.
CDC Director, Julie Gerberding, reports that tests of 120
samples of H3N2, the dominant flu strain affecting the U.S.,
indicated the virus was resistant to the generic antivirals
amantadine and rimantadine in 91%.
This represents a dramatic increase over last year, when only
11% of cases did not respond to the two drugs.
The CDC recommends instead that doctors prescribe either,
Tamiflu or Relenza. These are newer medications that are still
effective against the virus.
Although the two drugs are older and less frequently
prescribed, the CDC believes it is important to announce the
information because many older medications are still
prescribed by many doctors and in certain situations such as
to nursing home patients during a flu outbreak to prevent
infection.
The CDC is unsure why these particular flu strains became
resistant. Some experts believe, however, that the virus may
have mutated as a result of the drugs' overuse and
availability on an over-the-counter basis in other countries.
Tamiflu and Relenza are in high demand internationally as
people buying supplies to protect themselves in the event
that the avian flu mutates into a form easily passed
between humans.
While non-avian flu cases are prevalent throughout seven U.S.
states, predominantly in the South and Southwest, Gerberding
said it was too early to determine if this year's flu season
was at its peak. She assured the public that there was
sufficient supply of both Tamiflu and Relenza to treat the
generic flu virus this winter.
This latest study claiming limited effectiveness for Tamiflu
and Relenza has provoked criticism from both health officials
and Roche Holding AG (Tamiflu). Up until recently, consumers
and health officials considered Tamiflu the best protection
against both the regular flu and an outbreak of the avian-flu.
Roche Holding stated that said it strongly disagreed with the
study's "inappropriate" conclusions. It claimed that Tamiflu
would be effective at treating the flu this winter.
The World Health Organization was also reluctant to approve
the study's conclusions. It announced that it would not amend
its direction that countries stockpile Tamiflu to protect
against an epidemic.
However, both Roche and WHO admitted that currently there are
no large studies that prove Tamiflu is effective at protecting
humans against bird flu. They did cite animal studies that
suggest the drug will protect humans against the H5N1
avian-flu virus
As indicated by last week's advisory, the CDC says
neuraminidase inhibitors like Tamiflu remain effective despite
the resistance of many current seasonal flu viruses to older
antiviral medications.
The CDC advises that they should be given to anyone with "a
potentially life-threatening influenza-related illness" as
well as people at risk of complications. The CDC also
recommends the use of Tamiflu as a precautionary measure for
flu outbreaks that occur in nursing homes.
---
TC