The study also showed the efficacy of Xofluza to be comparable to
oseltamivir (a proven effective treatment for children with the flu).
MINISTONE-2 is a phase III, multicentre, randomised, double-blind study that evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics and efficacy of one dose of Xofluza compared with
oseltamivir in otherwise healthy children aged one to less than 12 years with influenza infection and displaying influenza symptoms (temperature of 38[degree sign]C or over, and one or more respiratory symptom).
But in a decision dated July 4 resolving the petition for review of the GSIS' board of trustees, the COA said the purchase of 476,300
Oseltamivir capsules was not part of GSIS' mandate since it is a social insurance institution and not a health agency.
substance
oseltamivir phosphate (essential requirements for the substance: manufacturer cipla india ltd, india.
Bradley noted baloxavir is much more expensive than
oseltamivir, which may not justify the better tolerance of the drug for influenza treatment.
"Single-dose baloxavir was without evident safety concerns, was superior to placebo in alleviating influenza symptoms, and was superior to both
oseltamivir and placebo in reducing the viral load one day after initiation of the trial regimen in patients with uncomplicated influenza," the authors write.
Oseltamivir phosphate is intended for use in patients 2 weeks of age and older who have had flu symptoms for no more than 48 hours, and for prevention of influenza in patients 1 year of age and older.
(3,4) This data makes the clinician alert to the problem and prompt to prescribe
oseltamivir when facing a flu syndrome.
Oseltamivir (Tamiflu[R], Roche-Korea), purchased from a pharmacy in Korea as prescribed by a medical doctor was used as positive control.
A 2014 systematic review included 8 RCTs in adults (3954 patients) and one RCT in children (669 patients) with influenza and compared time to alleviation of symptoms with
oseltamivir and placebo.
Keywords: Critically ill child, influenza,
oseltamivir, pediatric intensive care
A lively, and sometimes heated, debate has recently been conducted in the popular press (1) and medical literature (2-4) about the effectiveness of
oseltamivir, its usefulness in treating seasonal influenza, and the need for it to be stockpiled for use in a future influenza pandemic.
