Zanamivir is specifically for the treatment of infections caused by Influenzavirus A and Influenzavirus B.
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is caused by a virus which targets the body's respiratory cells and damages the lining of the respiratory tract, leading to swelling and inflammation of the tract. Influenza spreads rapidly by replicating itself inside the host cell, producing hundreds of copies of the virus in a short period. In approximately an hour the virus can destroy the host cell and propel its replications out into the body to find new host cells. For some people, the flu and its complications can be very serious, even fatal.
Zanamivir works by binding to the active site of the neuraminidase protein, rendering the influenza virus unable to escape its host cell and infect others. It is also an inhibitor of influenza virus replication ''in vitro'' and ''in vivo''. In clinical trials it was found that zanamivir was able to reduce the time to symptom resolution by 1.5 days if therapy was started within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.
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