A revolutionary Australian-designed influenza drug, based on CSIRO research should be able to treat the new Hong Kong influenza outbreak, a senior CSIRO scientist claimed today.

"The whole rationale for developing Zanamavir was that it attacks a part of the 'flu virus that is common to all known strains of influenza," says Dr Tom Spurling, Chief of CSIRO Molecular Science, where the drug was conceived.

"We are optimistic that the new 'flu will be equally susceptible. This should make the Australian designed 'flu treatment a powerful adjunct to other public health measures, including vaccines, in the event that the world were to be struck by a new pandemic, as some experts now warn could occur."

The drug was developed by the Australian pharmaceutical company Biota and is currently in late-stage clinical trials. The multinational pharmaceutical giant, Glaxo Wellcome, is expected to file for approval for world-wide use late next year.

Former CSIRO scientist, Dr Peter Colman, who led the development team said, "In principal, the drug is perfectly able to deal with the massive changes in the virus's structure that we are seeing in the new Hong Kong strain. That's why we took our radical approach in the early days of the drug's development."

"The 'flu virus is characterised by the variability of two surface proteins, haemaglutinin and neuraminidase," explains Colman who is now Director of the Biomolecular Research Institute.

"New pandemics of 'flu, such as Asian, Spanish or Hong Kong, arise from major changes in one or other of these 'disguises'. Often the changes are cross-overs from other species - in this case from poultry- and our immune system cannot deal quickly with them.

Zanamavir interacts with all types of neuraminidase tested to date, including close relatives of the neuraraminidase of the new Hong Kong strain, and therefore should be effective against all types of 'flu, whatever its origin," he said.

Biota chief, Dr Hugh Niall, said that his company was excited about the potential of the experimental drug. "I am confident that this partnership between Biota, CSIRO and Glaxo Wellcome will result in an effective anti-viral drug and make a major contribution towards containing future 'flu epidemics," he said.

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Doug Gale, CSIRO Work (03) 9662 7332
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