Lee ACY, To KKW, Zhang AJX, Zhu H, et al.. Triple combination of FDA-approved drugs including flufenamic acid, clarithromycin and zanamivir improves survival of severe influenza in mice. Arch Virol 2018 May 7
Seasonal influenza virus remains a common cause of mortality despite the use of neuraminidase inhibitors. This study evaluated the efficacy of a triple combination of zanamivir, clarithromycin and flufenamic acid (FFA) in the treatment of influenza virus A(H1N1) infection. An in vitro cell protection assay and a multiple-cycle growth assay showed that the antiviral activity of zanamivir was enhanced when combined with clarithromycin or FFA. A mouse challenge model was used here for the evaluation of the in vivo efficacy of the triple combination treatment. We found that mice receiving the triple combination of FFA, zanamivir, and clarithromycin had a significantly better survival rate than those receiving the double combination of zanamivir and clarithromycin (88% versus 44%, P?=?0.0083) or zanamivir monotherapy (88% versus 26%, P?=?0.0002). Mice in the FFA-zanamivir-clarithromycin triple combination group also exhibited significantly less body weight loss than those in the zanamivir-clarithromycin double combination group. There was no significant difference in the lung viral titers among the different groups from day 2 to day 6 postinfection. However, the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and RANTES in the FFA-zanamivir-clarithromycin triple combination group were significantly lower than those in the zanamivir-clarithromycin double combination group, zanamivir monotherapy group, or solvent group on day 2 postinfection. Our findings showed that the FFA-zanamivir-clarithromycin triple combination improved the inflammatory markers and survival of severe influenza A(H1N1) infection in mice.
See Also:
Latest articles in those days:
- Emergence of Novel Reassortant H3N2 Avian Influenza Viruses in Southern China: Genetic Complexity and Pathogenicity in Chickens and Mice 21 minute(s) ago
- Pathological evidence of neurotropism and oculotropism in wild black-headed gulls naturally infected with H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza 26 minute(s) ago
- Birth cohort effects in adults associated with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine effectiveness 13 hours ago
- Genetic Characterization of Swine Influenza Viruses in Thailand in 2019-2025 Reveals Novel Reassortants 13 hours ago
- Outbreak dynamics of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus H5N1, clade 2.3.4.4b euBB, in black-headed gulls and common terns in Germany in 2023 13 hours ago
[Go Top] [Close Window]


