Viruses, Vol. 15, Pages 2264: Prophylactic Treatment with Baloxavir Protects Mice from Lethal Infection with Influenza A and B Viruses

Viruses, Vol. 15, Pages 2264: Prophylactic Treatment with Baloxavir Protects Mice from Lethal Infection with Influenza A and B Viruses Viruses doi: 10.3390/v15112264 Authors: Keita Fukao Takeshi Noshi Shinya Shano Kaoru Baba Kenji Sato Masashi Sakuramoto Naohisa Kitade Hideki Tanioka Shinji Kusakabe Takao Shishido Influenza remains a worldwide health concern. Antiviral drugs are considered as one of the useful options for its prevention as a complementary measure to vaccination. Baloxavir acid selectively inhibits the cap-dependent endonuclease of influenza viruses and exhibits marked viral titre reduction in patients. Here, we describe the prophylactic potency of baloxavir acid against lethal infection with influenza A and B viruses in mice. BALB/c mice were subcutaneously administered once with baloxavir acid suspension, or orally administered once daily for 10 days with oseltamivir phosphate solution at human relevant doses. Next, the mice were intranasally inoculated with A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) or B/Hong Kong/5/72 strain at 24 to 96 h after the initial dosing. Prophylactic treatment with the antiviral drugs significantly reduced the lung viral titres and prolonged survival time. In particular, baloxavir acid showed a greater suppressive effect on lung viral titres compared to oseltamivir phosphate. In this model, baloxavir acid maintained significant prophylactic effects against influenza A and B virus infections when the plasma concentration at the ti...
Source: Viruses - Category: Virology Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research