首先要明白一点:世界上从来都没治疗流感的特效药,退而求其次,现有的抗流感病毒药只有在早期使用时才有一定的, 非常limited 的,疗效.
Rimantadine only effective aginst influenza A; Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Zanamivir 则是对Influenza A and B 都有点效果。这都是临床试验的结果。
流感是病毒感染,而抗病毒药是非常难制造的-因为viruses being DNA/RNA based small particles do not have many unique elements to be targeted at by potential anti-viral drugs.
有限的成功的例子包括抗AIDS drugs 和抗Herpes drugs.