It has been announced that the first oral antiviral for COVID-19, molnupiravir, has been approved by The Medicines and Healthcare … read more
An out break of avian influenza (bird flu) has been discovered on a Suffolk poultry farm. Dr Holly Shelton, … read more
The Academy of Medical Sciences has published a new report entitled, ‘Enhancing the use of scientific evidence to judge the potential benefits and harms of medicines’.
Our ageing population has more complex health needs than ever before, and as we enter a personalised medicine era we … read more
Pandemic influenza tops the UK’s National Risk Register due to the social and economic disruption that could result from a particularly virulent strain. Questions have been raised for some years about the efficacy and effectiveness of neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs)Tamiflu and Relenza, the principal antiviral drugs used in treating flu, and whether this justifies their being part of the UK government’s response to influenza. In response to a request from the UK Department of Health, a small, independent steering group was established by the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Wellcome Trust to review the recent evidence about the use of NAIs, consider the pipeline for new treatments for influenza, and identify research priorities. read more
The Academy of Medical Sciences and the Wellcome Trust have published a report into the effectiveness of neuraminidase inhibitor antiviral drugs for the treatment and prevention of influenza. read more
Researchers have published in the Lancet journal a meta-analysis of the effects of Tamiflu, reporting beneficial effects on alleviation of symptoms and risk of complications, but also on an increase in side effects such as nausea. read more
Researchers have published in the Lancet journal a meta-analysis of the effects of Tamiflu, reporting beneficial effects on alleviation of symptoms and risk of complications, but also on an increase in side effects such as nausea. read more
I’m not sure why now, but after 10 years of running weekly briefings on controversial science stories we have recently … read more
The Cochrane Collaboration published an evidence review of Tamiflu (the antiviral drug oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) trials, reporting that Tamiflu shortens symptoms of influenza but other claims made for the drugs were not well supported by evidence from clinical study reports. read more
The Cochrane Collaboration published an evidence review of Tamiflu (the antiviral drug oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) trials, reporting that Tamiflu shortens symptoms of influenza but other claims made for the drugs were not well supported by evidence from clinical study reports. read more
Authors of the latest updated ‘Cochrane Review: Neuraminidase inhibitors for preventing and treating influenza in healthy adults and children’ came came to the SMC to outline their findings about the effectiveness of Tamilflu and Relenza. read more
A Nature Communications paper showed a mutation in newly emerged H7N9 influenza can render it resistant to the only class of drugs active against the virus, without affecting its ability to spread in animals. read more
(Updated 24 May to include a personal perspective from Adrian Bull) Fiona took part in a debate session held at … read more
Further cases of infection with the H7N9 bird flu virus have been reported. read more
At the time of writing, seven cases of the bird flu virus H7N9 had been reported in China, with three deaths. read more
The Cochrane review looked at the efficacy of the two leading flu vaccinations. read more
When Professor David Nutt called to ask if we would host the media launch of his new independent scientific committee on drugs, … read more
A systematic review of studies of the efficacy of antiviral drugs used to treat influenza has found only modest benefits in their use, raising questions over public health policy regarding their use in the current flu pandemic. read more
Scientists in Norway discovered a possible mutation to the H1N1 virus which could affect properties such as ease of transmission and virulence. read more
