Oseltamivir phosphate, molecular

Figure 4.18 The structure of Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate), an antiviral agent active against type A influenza, and a molecular model of its minimum-energy conformation, as calculated by molecular mechanics.

Influenza A viruses cause severe infections in the respiratory system and are responsible for seasonal epidemics and sporadic pandemics. The primary method for prevention is through vaccination but vaccine production by current methods cannot be carried out in time to stop the progress of a new strain of the influenza virus. Therefore, effective antiviral agents are used for prophylactic and therapeutic treatments. Among several viral molecular targets for anti-influenza drugs, the surface glycoprotein neuraminidase appears particularly attractive. Selective inhibitors of this enzyme have been developed and two of which, oseltamivir phosphate 18 (Tamiflu ) " and zanamivir 19 (Relenza ), have been approved for human use (Scheme 6). 

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