In a healthy business: scientists have found a way to increase the effectiveness of a domestic flu drug

Russian scientists have found a way to increase the effectiveness of the domestic antiviral drug Triazavirin. They modified the drug molecule, enhancing its ability to prevent the pathogen from entering human cells. According to doctors, this can speed up the recovery of flu patients. So far, the results have been obtained only in laboratory conditions, so for final conclusions they will have to be confirmed in human studies. The improved drug is already undergoing preclinical trials, and it will take about five years for developers to complete all stages of research.

Improved "Triazavirin"

Specialists from the Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, together with colleagues from the Ural Federal University, conducted a study of the mechanism of action of the antiviral drug Triazavirin, which is used to treat influenza and other respiratory infections. They found out that one of the targets for the active substance is the protein hemagglutinin, which the virus uses to enter human cells. The scientists also managed to find a way to modify the drug molecule to increase its effectiveness. The updated drug is already undergoing preclinical studies.

— We have shown the possibility of the drug's effect on another protein of the virus, the effect on which had not previously been described. And thanks to this, a modification of the existing drug was proposed. The influenza virus uses the surface protein hemagglutinin to enter the cell. It has a special fusion peptide on it that harpoons out and penetrates the cell membrane. "Triazavirin" can block this "harpoon", sealing it in its original state. And if you add a small "tail" to its molecule, the retention of the fusion peptide increases," Oleg Batishchev, Deputy Director for Scientific Work at the Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told Izvestia.

This modification further reduces the likelihood of the virus entering the cell compared to the original drug. The effect of the substance was confirmed during experiments on a model of the human cell membrane. Further tests on animals, and then with the participation of humans, will take about five years, the scientist added.

The UrFU specialists synthesized Triazavirin itself, as well as its analogues for research.

— The idea was to compare Triazavirin and understand how it works, and then try to improve its properties by chemically modifying its structure. And we have shown this in an experiment," said Konstantin Savateev, Senior researcher at the UrFU Laboratory of Organic Synthesis.

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Effect on the patient

Such a modification of Triazavirin can lead to the fact that the influenza virus will infect fewer cells, Andrey Prodeus, chief pediatric allergist and immunologist at the Ministry of Health of the Moscow Region, explained to Izvestia.

— If it becomes more difficult for the influenza virus to enter the cells, they will not be reinfected. This is especially important in the early stages of the disease, as it will help stop the spread of infection. In addition, a person is less likely to transmit the virus to others and will be able to recover faster," he said.

First, the pathogen infects a certain number of cells, after which the viruses begin to multiply in them. If this process is not prevented, the infection spreads. The medicine allows you to reduce the load, which is crucial for treatment. Therefore, the development may be promising, but it is necessary to conduct clinical trials, the doctor added.

It will be possible to determine unambiguously how much the effectiveness of the drug will change after modification only based on the results of human trials, says immunologist Mikhail Bolkov.

— The fact that the researchers studied the molecular dynamics and showed how the drug prevents the virus from attaching to the cell is the result of a laboratory experiment. This does not automatically mean that the effect will be confirmed, for example, in mice, especially in humans. Theoretically, such a mechanism should have an antiviral effect. But the drug, once in the body, goes through a difficult path, and it is necessary that it reaches the right cells in the required concentration. Only then can we assess how effectively it works," he said.

For a drug that has previously been registered and then modified, there is a simplified clinical trial procedure, the scientist added.

According to Rospotrebnadzor, from September 28 to October 4, more than 688 thousand cases of acute respiratory viral infections, influenza and COVID-19 were registered in Russia — slightly less than a week earlier. According to the results of virological monitoring, among the circulating respiratory viruses, pathogens of non—influenza etiology predominate - 98.5%. Rhinoviruses account for 53%, and parainfluenza accounts for 14.5%. Influenza viruses account for 1.5% of the identified pathogens; among them, viruses A(H1N1), B and C. Flu vaccination continues in the regions. Over 11.6 million people have already been vaccinated as part of the campaign.