Peramivir is an experimental antiviral drug developed by BioCryst Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of influenza. It has been authorized for the emergency use of treatment of certain hospitalized patients with known or suspected 2009 H1N1 influenza. Peramivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor, acting as a transition-state analogue inhibitor of influenza neuraminidase and thereby preventing new viruses from emerging from infected cells. The development of peramivir is supported by the US Department of Health and Human Services as part of the US government's effort to prepare against the threat of an influenza pandemic.A novel variant of swine flu has emerged in Asia with a genetic adaptation giving some resistance to Roche's (ROG.VX) Tamiflu and GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK.L) Relenza, the two mainstay drugs used to tackle the disease. There was no significant reduction in sensitivity to Peramivir.
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