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Laninamivir effective, well-tolerated prophylaxis for influenza in young children
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Data recently published in Pediatrics revealed that a single dose of inhaled laninamivir octanoate significantly lowered the risk for infection with influenza among Japanese children aged younger than 10 years.
“Laninamivir potently inhibits neuraminidase activities of various influenza A and B viruses, including subtypes N1 and N9, influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 viruses, highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses and oseltamivir-resistant viruses,” Takashi Nakano, MD, PhD, from the department of pediatrics at Kawasaki Hospital, Kawasaki Medical School in Okayama, Japan, and colleagues wrote. “However, the efficacy of laninamivir octanoate as prophylaxis for influenza in children younger than 10 years of age has not yet been evaluated.”
To determine the efficacy and tolerability of laninamivir octanoate as a prophylaxis in children aged younger than 10 years, Nakano and colleagues conducted a placebo-controlled, double blind, multicenter study among 341 children who lived with children and adults affected by the influenza virus who were being treated with oseltamivir or zanamivir. The participants were randomly assigned to receive either 20 mg of inhaled laninamivir octanoate (n = 171) or placebo (n = 170) on day 1 of the study. Researchers observed study children for a period of 10 days to assess development of influenza.
Results showed that 11% (18/171) of children developed influenza in the laninamivir octanoate group compared to 19% (33/170) in the control group (P = .02); relative risk reduction was 45.8% (95% CI, 7.5-to 68.2). The incidence of adverse events was similar in both groups (15% in the laninamivir octanoate group vs. 13% in the control group).
“This finding indicates that laninamivir octanoate prevents transmission of influenza to noninfected individuals within the household as an effective prophylaxis,” the researchers wrote. – by Kate Sherrer
Disclosure: This study was funded by Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. Nakano received consulting fees and payment for lectures from Daiichi Sankyo. Please see the full study for a list of all other researchers’ relevant financial disclosures.
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