Possible Alternative Agent to Tamiflu Synthesized

March 18, 2014

The research group in Okayama University Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology has synthesized a new anti-influenza agent. This compound inhibits the activity of the enzyme sialidase and is effective against enzymes from Tamiflu-resistant viruses. Therefore it could be an alternative to Tamiflu.

These findings were published on February 19, 2014 in the journal Nature Communications.
http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v4/n2/full/ncomms2487.html

The collaborative research group from Okayama University, Tohoku University, China Science Academy, Yokohama College of Pharmacy and Chubu University has synthesized a compound that inhibits the activity of sialidase.
Sialidase is necessary for the budding during the influenza viral reproduction cycle. Currently existing anti-influenza agents such as Tamiflu and Relenza also inhibit sialidase activity and prevent viral reproduction. The inhibition activity of the synthesized compound was equivalent to or less than the currently existing agents. However, it retained strong effectiveness against the enzymes from the Tamiflu-resistant viruses.
The compound has a structure similar to the one originally targeted by the viral enzymes than those of the existing agents.

The compound could lead the development of a novel anti-influenza agent.


Contact Information:
Mototaka Senda, Ph.D.
US Representative
Intellectual Property Office, Organization for Research Promotion and Collaboration, Okayama University
Fremont, California USA
TEL: 1-510-797-0907
Email: takasenda@okayama-u.ac.jp

Hiromasa Kiyota, Ph.D.
Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama Japan