Drugs & Medication

Neuraminidase inhibitors are a class of antiviral drugs whose mode of action relies on blocking the function of viral neuraminidase protein, thus preventing the virus from budding from the host cell.

Oseltamivir, Zanamivir and Peramivir belong to this class.

Unlike the M2 inhibitors, which work only against the influenza A, neuraminidase inhibitors act against both influenza A and B.

See also:

• This flash animation shows the mode of action of oseltamivir (Tamiflu®)
• Replication of influenza virus

Reference

• ↑ Gubareva LV (2004). "Molecular mechanisms of influenza virus resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors". Virus Research 103: 199-203. DOI]