# 2041
With the caveat that what works on mice doesn't always work on humans, today's announcement of vastly increased survival rates of H5N1 infected mice when treated with a `cocktail' of drugs is encouraging.
Scientists infected mice with the bird flu virus and then began treatment 48 hours post-infection with a combination of zanamivir (Relenza) and two types of NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs).
Survivability increased 4-fold with this cocktail over zanamivir alone.
The NSAIDS used were celecoxib (Celebrex) and mesalazine, an NSAID used for inflammatory bowel disease.
Steroids, which reduce inflammation but also inhibit the body's immune system, were tried early on with SARS and experimentally with bird flu, but in the end did not improve long-term survivability. NSAIDS have a similar anti-inflammatory effect, but don't weaken the immune system.
The scientists involved in this study are hopeful this research will lead to clinical trials of this drug cocktail.
This report from Reuters.
HK experts use new cocktail to fight H5N1 in mice
Mon Jun 2, 2008 10:05pm BST
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Scientists in Hong Kong have used a cocktail of three drugs which appeared to raise the survival rates of mice infected with lethal doses of the H5N1 avian flu virus.
Writing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the scientists said the drugs suppressed the virus and toned down an over-reaction of the immune system.
Some experts believe H5N1 triggers a "cytokine storm" -- a reaction in the immune system so severe it ends up killing the patient. The H5N1 is associated with a mortality rate of between 60 and 80 percent in people.
Professor Yuen Kwokyung, a leading microbiologist at the University of Hong Kong, said the team used the antiviral drug zanamivir and two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents.
