Tamiflu Vaccine
Tamiflu is a flu prevention and treatment medicine belonging to the class of neuraminidase inhibitors. It is widely prescribed and used in influenza cases, as it does not simply relieve symptoms, but attacks the virus causing the illness.
Tamiflu (or Oseltamivir as it is scientifically known) has offered some positive results in instances of bird flu infections. However, this necessitates higher doses and longer durations of therapy than in regular influenza cases. The medicine was widely used during the avian flu epidemic in Southeast Asia which occurred in 2005. Also, whether or not it is actually helpful in treating the disease has been questioned by scientists in different parts of the world. Sir Liam Donaldson, a high ranking UK physician claims Tamiflu lacks convincing evidence towards treating avian influenza. He is supported by Nguyen Tuong Van, MD, working within the Center for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, Vietnam. He has been involved in treating 41 victims of the H5N1 virus and he says the drug has not been widely successful in human patients. However, the fact that administration of Tamiflu has only been possible in late stages of the disease in most cases, may have hampered positive results.
High level of resistance of the bird flu virus have been documented with several patients treated with Tamiflu. It seems the emergence of a resistant H5N1 strain might be associated with the patient’s rapid clinical deterioration. Also, augmenting the usual dosage of the substance does not always ensure suppression of the viral replication, thus leaving a high chance of potent new subtypes to develop.
Tamiflu is being produced under license by Roche and is provided by capsules containing 98.5 mg oseltamivir phosphate, which is equivalent with 75 mg of oseltamivir), or as powder for oral administration, containing 12 mg/ml of the active substance.
Patient studies have proven Tamiflu to be a well tolerated drug generally. It may cause mild or moderate nausea in some cases, but administering it with food will reduce the potential of this occurring. In seldom cases, bronchitis, sleeplessness and vertigo may also appear.
Although controversial for some, Tamiflu seems to be the favorite of many countries in the event of a world outbreak of the disease and at this moment is the most widely stockpiled flu drug around the world. Some countries even consider breaking Roche’s patent rights and developing variants of the vaccine on their own.