Anti-influenza therapies that target the host
A drug that targets the host rather than the virus could get around the problem of antiviral resistance. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people die of seasonal influenza caused by infection with influenza A and B viruses.
A novel drug class targeting host proteins rather than viruses, called AGM-380d and AGM-380t, has shown promise in inhibiting influenza A and B replication. These compounds bind to nucleolin, a versatile protein primarily found in the nucleolus, a cellular compartment. By capturing the virus within the nucleus, the drugs prevent replication and spread of both pandemic and seasonal flu strains.
In laboratory tests, AGM-380d and AGM-380t successfully inhibited virus replication in cultured cells and protected mice from severe influenza A infection, reducing lung viral replication, pathology, and increasing survival rates. When combined with the antiviral drug oseltamivir, also known as Tamiflu, the combination achieved 100% survival in test mice.
Researchers at the University of Toronto suggest nucleolin-binding drugs represent a promising approach to overcome antiviral resistance and improve influenza management worldwide. Their findings are published in the PNAS Nexus journal.
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