All viruses were tested in a plaque reduction assay in MDCK cells, and a subset was also tested in both yield reduction and focus inhibition assays. For the majority of viruses tested, favipiravir significantly inhibited plaque formation at 3.2 muM (0.5mug/ml) (EC50s 0.19 – 22.48 muM, 0.03 – 3.53 mug/ml), and for all viruses, with the exception of a single dual resistant 2009 A(H1N1) virus, complete inhibition of plaque formation was seen at 3.2 muM (0.5mug/ml). Due to the 2009 pandemic and increased drug resistance in circulating seasonal influenza viruses, there is an urgent need for new drugs which target influenza. This study demonstrates that favipiravir inhibits in vitro replication of a wide range of influenza viruses, including those resistant to currently available drugs.
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