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Tamiflu, Relenza Data Show Little Clinical Benefit Against Flu

By Joe Elia

The neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) have only marginal benefits in the treatment and prevention of influenza, a series of BMJ articles concludes.

Investigators reviewed documents submitted to regulatory agencies concerning both drugs.

Tamiflu data showed it reduced symptom duration by roughly 17 hours but made no difference in hospital admissions or rates of carefully defined pneumonia. Tamiflu increased nausea and vomiting. As prophylaxis, it greatly reduced symptomatic (but not asymptomatic) cases.

The Relenza analysis similarly showed a modest reduction in symptom duration (14 hours) and no effect on pneumonia. As prophylaxis, it acted like Tamiflu and had fewer side effects.

Editorialists observe that the analyses show "with greater clarity than ever" that the current system for drug regulation is broken. And one commented that, given these results, "it is difficult to conceive that many patients would actively seek treatment."

NEJM Journal Watch Infectious Diseases associate editor Stephen Baum wrote: "Clean out your medicine cabinet: these reviews call into question the drugs' efficacy and side effects, as well as the ways in which data were selectively used to promote them."

These links give extensive information about the two drugs.
http://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g2545
http://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g2630
http://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g2547

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