osteoporosis drugs kill swine flu virus

[sundial]

Osteoporosis Drugs Kill Swine Flu Virus
Friday, August 14, 2009 10:13 AM

Two existing drugs used to treat osteoporosis may be effective in killing influenza viruses, including the new H1N1 swine flu and the H5N1 bird flu viruses, researchers in Hong Kong have found.

The two drugs are pamidronate and zoledronate, which are marketed by Novartis AG under the brand names Aredia and Reclast, respectively.

In their experiment, the researchers exposed human cells that had been infected with the influenza viruses to the two drugs.

They observed that the drugs triggered extra production of a type of white blood cell called yd-T cells, which went on to kill human cells that were infected with the flu viruses.

Flu viruses can only replicate in living human or animal cells and killing infected cells would stop the viruses from replicating, the researchers said.

Professor Lau Yu-lung at the University of Hong Kong's pediatrics and adolescent medicine department described the infected human cells as "factories that will produce viruses."
"These drugs attack the viruses specifically ... This approach kills the factories that are producing viruses."

Malik Peiris, also part of the research team, said the drugs could enhance immune responses of the human body.

That was especially important as flu viruses mutate constantly, which reduces the efficacy of vaccines, he added.

The researchers plan to move next into animal and then human clinical testing.

http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/health_...14/247889.html

And...

Osteoporosis drugs can fight flu virus
Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:23:21 GMT

A group of drugs commonly used to treat osteoporosis can effectively combat influenza viruses such as the H1N1 swine flu and the H5N1 bird flu viruses.

Since flu viruses mutate constantly, there is no effective medication or vaccine which can combat all the new strains of the virus. A new brand of drug, however, has eased such concerns.

According to a study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, phosphoantigens fight flu virus through attacking the host cells rather than the flu-viruses themselves.

Flu viruses can only replicate in living cells; killing the infected cells, therefore, prevents the replication of the viruses and the spread of the virus.

Phosphoantigens are a new generation of immunostimulatory agents commonly prescribed in osteoporotic individuals. Clinically used phosphoantigens are Aredia (pamidronate) and Reclast (zoledronate).

These drugs fight flu viruses by destroying the 'factories that will produce viruses', the journal reported.

The study showed that phosphoantigens not only kill infected host macrophages but also enhance the immune responses in the body, protecting the individual against the virus.

University of Hong Kong scientists hope their findings will lead to the development of effective medication for flu viruses in the near future.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id...tionid=3510210

[Biciclista]

Rather ironic considering the people most at risk for this particular flu are not the ones taking Osteo. drugs!