Zanamivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor used in the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza caused by influenza A and B viruses. Zanamivir was the first neuraminidase inhibitor commercially developed. Zanamivir is used for the treatment of infections caused by influenza A and influenza B viruses. Zanamivir works by binding to the active site of the neuraminidase protein, rendering the influenza virus unable to escape its host cell and infect others. It is also an inhibitor of influenza virus replication in vitro and in vivo. As a proven anti-influenza drug target, neuraminidase continues to be attractive for the development of new inhibitors.The reported oseltamivir-resistance H5N1 virus neuraminidase still retaining susceptibility to zanamivir indicates that the structure of zanamivir has some advantages over oseltamivir in binding to the active pocket of H5N1 neuraminidase.
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