Drug generations that combat influenza A virus infection

Abstract Influenza viruses are significant human respiratory pathogens that cause infections and unpredictable pandemic outbreaks. M2 ion-channel protein, participating in the transmission of viral genetic materials into infected cells, is considered to be the crucial target for old-generation drugs such as rimantadine and amantadine. Neuraminidase protein, which is responsible for the replication of the influenza virus, is affected by the new generation of drugs, including oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). The virus mutations that cause oseltamivir resistance are also described. This review presents the details concerning the treatment of influenza neuraminidase inhibitors against the H5N1 strain. It also describes virus mutations that cause resistance to oseltamivir and presents a new drug, peramivir, which is a neuraminidase inhibitor that was introduced against the H1N1 epidemic. This work specifies the details of the pharmacokinetics, dosing, toxicity, side effects, and efficiency of the drugs being used against influenza A virus infections.