The Japanese government recently granted accelerated approval to a new Drug that has been shown to combat influenza in one day, with one pill.
The drug is called Xofluza (generic: Baloxavir marboxyl).
The influenza outbreak in the U.S. this year has reached levels not seen since the swine flu epidemic of 2009. CDC has reported more hospitalization this time than any other flu season.
Alex Azar, U.S. Secretary of Health said-
“Getting the flu shot is the same kind of sensible precaution as buckling your seatbelt.”
Currently, Tamiflu (generic: Oseltamivir) is the go-to antiviral treatment for flu.
Is Xofluza a challenger to Tamiflu?
Influenza viruses are significant human respiratory pathogens that cause both seasonal, endemic infections and periodic, unpredictable pandemics.
As per reports in the Wall Street Journal, Baloxavir marboxil or Xofluza, is a cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor that vouches to kill influenza viruses in 24 hours (although some symptoms could last longer). It suppresses viral replication by a mechanism different from that of existing anti-influenza drugs.
Flu virus replicates rapidly in a short time with the help of an enzyme (cap-dependent endonuclease). Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) inhibits the action of an enzyme (neuraminidase) that frees viruses from the infected cells’ surface, while baloxavir marboxil prevents replication by inhibiting cap-dependent endonuclease activity of the viral polymerase.
For this reason, Tamiflu needs a dosage of twice-daily over 5 days to treat the flu, and Xofluza is taken in a single dose regardless of age, making it convenient and likely improving patient compliance.
Given that the flu vaccine this season has been only 36% effective, this is a welcome news.
Roche, which is also the producer of Tamiflu, has acquired the license to sell Xofluza internationally, but it will be available in the U.S., only by 2019. The Japanese drugmaker Shionogi, however, will begin selling the drug once the pricing is finalized.
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