Peramivir Protects Mice From Lethal H5N1 Infection

The antiviral drug
peramivir might offer humans significant protection during a pandemic of
the avian influenza virus H5N1, according to results of mouse studies
conducted by investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.


Peramivir, an antiviral drug, blocks the ability of influenza viruses
to use an enzyme called neuraminidase, thus preventing the release of new
virus particles and their spread from one infected cell to another.



The researchers reported 100 percent survival among 10 infected mice
given intramuscular injections of peramivir daily for eight days. The drug
also inhibited the replication of the deadly strain of H5N1 virus in the
lung, brain and spleen. The key to the high survival rate was treating the
infected mice within 24 hours after infection with H5N1 and continuing the
treatment for eight days.



"Peramivir should be given as soon as H5N1 infection is suspected,
since onset of symptoms in infected humans can be delayed," said David A.
Boltz, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Robert G. Webster
in the Infectious Diseases department at St. Jude. "The drug could also be
given as a preventive measure during an outbreak to decrease the risk of
infection." Boltz is first author of a paper that was presented Mon., April
30 at the 20th International Conference on Antiviral Research in Palm
Springs, Calif.



"We were surprised that we could also see a 40 percent survival rate
among mice after just a single dose of peramivir," said Elena A. Govorkova,
Ph.D., a scientific manager in the Infectious Diseases department at St.
Jude. Govorkova is the paper's senior author.



"We are currently studying the emergence of H5N1 variants that are
resistant to this drug and may occur in the course of treatment," said
Natalia A. Ilyushina, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in Webster's laboratory
and a co- author of the paper.



Other authors of this report include Robert G. Webster (St. Jude) and
C. Shane Arnold and Y. Sudhakar Babu (BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Inc.,
Birmingham, Ala.).



This study was supported by National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases, the U.S. Public Health Service, BioCryst
Pharmaceuticals and ALSAC.



St. Jude Children's Research Hospital



St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for
its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and
other catastrophic diseases. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and
based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with
scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays
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never asked to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its
fundraising organization. For more information, please visit
stjude.


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