Relenza (Zanamivir) - Summary

RELENZA SUMMARY

The active component of RELENZA is zanamivir, an antiviral agent.

RELENZA is indicated for treatment of uncomplicated acute illness due to influenza A and B virus in adults and pediatric patients 7 years and older who have been symptomatic for no more than 2 days (see Description of Clinical Studies and PRECAUTIONS).

RELENZA is not recommended for treatment of patients with underlying airways disease (such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) (see WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS).

See all Relenza indications & dosage >>

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Media Articles Related to Relenza (Zanamivir)

Influenza And Parkinson Drug Also Effective In Treating Pathological Gambling
Source: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs News From Medical News Today [2013.06.11]
Amantadine, a substance used for treating influenza and Parkinson, could be a new treatment option for pathological gambling according to researchers from Gabriele d'Annunzio University in Chieti, Italy, reporting at the 23rd Meeting of the European Neurological Society (ENS) in Barcelona. About 3,000 experts are gathering to discuss current developments in their field...

FDA Approves Sanofi's 4-Strain Influenza Vaccine
Source: Flu / Cold / SARS News From Medical News Today [2013.06.11]
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has just announced the approval of the first and only 4-strain influenza vaccine for children as young as 6 months. Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of the French drugmaker Sanofi, said its Fluzone Quadrivalent vaccine provides better protection from flu compared to the older three-strain vaccines...

New Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Gets FDA Nod
Source: Medscape Infectious Diseases Headlines [2013.06.10]
Fluzone Quadrivalent is the first and only 4-strain flu vaccine approved for use in children aged as young as 6 months.
FDA Approvals

Influenza Virus Mutations Could Result In Pandemic Flu
Source: Bird Flu / Avian Flu News From Medical News Today [2013.06.07]
If two recently emerged avian influenza virus strains mutate and acquire the ability to become easily human transmissible, they could create a pandemic flu, researchers from MIT reported in the journal Cell. The two bird (avian) flu strains - H5N1 and H7N9 - do not currently transmit easily from human-to-human. However, it would only take one or just a few genetic mutations to change all that...

Studies Of Two Influenza Viruses Reveals Mutations That Could Cause Pandemic
Source: Flu / Cold / SARS News From Medical News Today [2013.06.06]
Influenza viruses that emerge from birds or pigs can create pandemic flu if they gain the ability to spread from person to person. New research from MIT shows that two recently emerged bird flu strains, which do not spread easily now, could become much more infectious with just one or a few genetic mutations...

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Published Studies Related to Relenza (Zanamivir)

Efficacy of oseltamivir-zanamivir combination compared to each monotherapy for seasonal influenza: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. [2010.11.02]
CONCLUSIONS: In adults with seasonal influenza A mainly H3N2 virus infection, the oseltamivir-zanamivir combination appeared less effective than oseltamivir monotherapy, and not significantly more effective than zanamivir monotherapy. Despite the theoretical potential for the reduction of the emergence of antiviral resistance, the lower effectiveness of this combination calls for caution in its use in clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.ClinicalTrials.govNCT00799760.

A comparison of the effectiveness of zanamivir and oseltamivir for the treatment of influenza A and B. [2008.01]
OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of zanamivir with oseltamivir for influenza A and B... CONCLUSION: Zanamivir therapy is more effective than oseltamivir for the treatment of influenza B infection.

Efficacy and Safety of Inhaled Zanamivir in the Prevention of Influenza in Community-Dwelling, High-Risk Adult and Adolescent Subjects: A 28-day, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. [2007.08]
Background: Influenza can cause significant morbidity and mortality in subjects at high risk for complications, including the elderly (age >/=65 years) and those with chronic respiratory, cardiovascular, or metabolic conditions...

Safety and efficacy of nebulized zanamivir in hospitalized patients with serious influenza. [2003.06]
Influenza is an important cause of hospitalization due to lower respiratory tract involvement for which there is no specific antiviral treatment with proven efficacy. We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to assess the tolerability and efficacy of nebulized zanamivir (16 mg four times a day) in combination with rimantadine compared to rimantadine with nebulized saline for treating influenza in adults hospitalized with influenza...

Zanamivir: a significant reduction in viral load during treatment in military conscripts with influenza. [2003]
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial performed at 5 residential units of the Finnish Defence Forces was conducted to assess the antiviral activity, efficacy and safety of inhaled zanamivir for the treatment of naturally acquired influenza... Zanamivir rapidly reduced viral load following the start of therapy compared with placebo and was well tolerated.

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Clinical Trials Related to Relenza (Zanamivir)

Safety Study to Assess IV Zanamivir for Treatment of Influenza Infection in Patients Who Are in Hospital [Recruiting]
The purpose of this study is to determine whether zanamivir aqueous solution given by intravenous injection is safe in treating hospitalized patients with confirmed influenza infection. A single arm open-label design has been selected to achieve the primary objective of providing regulatory authorities with safety data on IV zanamivir.

Evaluation of Efficacity and Safety of Oseltamivir and Zanamivir [Not yet recruiting]
In order to prevent the high mortality due to an hypothetic pandemic caused by a newly emerging influenza A virus, antiviral drugs are seen as essential requirements for control of initial influenza outbreaks. Two antivirals are available for the treatment oseltamivir and zanamivir. Emergence of Oseltamivir resistance has been recently reported. . It appeared opportune to assess the efficacy and safety of biotherapy of neuraminidase inhibitors ,will be investigated by a randomized, placebo controlled, double blind study in France, during the next winter season . This study will be conducted in 300 centres of primary care with 900 adults with a virologically suspected influenza A infection. Individuals will be randomized to 1 of the 3 treatment groups: oseltamivir +zanamivir, or oseltamivir+placebo or placebo +zanamivir. The primary judgment criteria will be the proportion of patients with negative RT PCR negative in nasal secretions at Day 2.

A Study to Evaluate Orally-Administered Oseltamivir and Intravenous Zanamivir in Healthy Subjects [Terminated]
This study is a 4 period study to see if there is any interaction between Orally-Administered Oseltamivir and Intravenous Zanamivir in Healthy Thai Adult Subjects

Pharmacokinetic Study of Oseltamivir and Intravenous Zanamivir in Healthy Adults [Recruiting]
Due in part to widespread availability of oseltamivir and clinical experience using oseltamivir to treat H5N1 influenza virus infections, many strains of influenza have become resistant to it. Other reliable methods of treating H5N1 must be identified in case of a pandemic. One such option is intravenous zanamivir used in combination with oseltamivir. The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the interaction between oral oseltamivir and intravenous zanamivir administered as either a continuous or intermittent infusion in healthy adults.

A Clinical Trial Comparing Oseltamivir With Placebo And Zanamivir With Control As First Line Treatment For Human Swine Influenza Infection [Recruiting]
The outbreak of respiratory illnesses in Mexico that began in March 2009 was caused by a swine origin influenza A (H1N1) virus (S-OIV) that had not been recognized previously in pigs or humans. As of 17 May 2009, 39 countries have officially reported 8480 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection.

The H1N1 influenza A virus appears sensitive to oseltamivir and zanamivir in vitro, but resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. This study is to test the oseltamivir, zanamivir and placebo arms as the first line treatment for human swine influenza infection. Through the study, the investigators may have better understanding about the clinical and, biochemical, virological profiles of oseltamivir/zanamivir on the H1N1 virus, and optimizing the treatment strategy among the Chinese population.

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Reports of Suspected Relenza (Zanamivir) Side Effects

Abnormal Behaviour (40),  Hallucination (17),  Delirium (17),  Aggression (12),  Screaming (10),  Loss of Consciousness (8),  Nausea (8),  Convulsion (8),  Depressed Level of Consciousness (8),  Pyrexia (7), more >>