New treatments for viral respiratory tract infections--opportunities and problems

Respiratory viral infections after bone marrow/peripheral stem-cell transplantation: the Christie hospital experience1

“…While RSV, influenza and parainfluenza viruses are recognized causes of complications in these patients, the contribution of rhinoviruses in transplant recipients may have been underestimated. Development of improved diagnostic techniques for respiratory agents including rhinoviruses, for example PCR, 21 and the potential introduction of new antiviral agents with activity against rhinoviruses such as oral pleconaril (WIN 63843) 22 and intranasal ruprintrivir 23 should be incentives for further studies. Awareness of the risk posed by all these viruses is important, but defining effective prophylactic and therapeutic strategies will be a challenge that needs to be studied in controlled trials.…”

Optimal PEGylation can Improve the Exposure of Interferon in the Lungs Following Pulmonary Administration

“…Interferons (IFN) are of particular interest as they have potent antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory activity . For instance, the inhaled delivery of IFNs has attracted significant interest for the treatment of lung cancers, pulmonary tuberculosis, viral infections such as respiratory syncytial virus, recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, and cystic fibrosis . The potent antifibrotic effects of IFNγ have also attracted attention as a therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis .…”

Examining unmet needs in infectious disease

“…Recently, a new class of drugs has been introduced that inhibit the viral neuraminidase (sialidase), which facilitates release of new virions from the host cell. Two of these agents, zanamivir and oseltamivir, show modest efficacy in clinical practice against influenza A and B [68]. However, the influenza virus undergoes periodic major antigenic shifts, which can result in global pandemics of severe and potentially fatal disease, and currently it is not known if these agents would prove effective in this situation [69].…”