Early intervention with oseltamivir maximises the drug’s effectiveness
for treating influenza, trial results show.
The IMPACT (immediate possibility to access oseltamivir treatment) trial compared
the efficacy of oseltamivir therapy when started within 12, 24 and 48 hours
of the onset of influenza symptoms.
It found that starting treatment within 12 hours of symptom onset reduced the
total duration of illness by more than three days compared with starting treatment
at 48 hours. Treatment at 48 hours was still of some benefit but, because viral
replication peaked at 48 hours, the effect of treatment with oseltamivir after
this time was reduced, a spokeswoman for Roche told The Journal on October 2.
The trial results were presented at a conference on antimicrobial agents and
chemotherapy in Toronto in September.