relenza: mode of action, page-4

Nice post heymick and a clear presentation on Tamiflu.

I suggested some time ago that the key difference between Relenza and Tamiflu was that Relenza stopped the virus, and for that read any flu virus, from dividing, and Tamiflu allowed division but restricted the virus from leaving the infected host cell. Both strategies are aimed at curtailing the spread of infection.

But mutations occur as I understand it through the subdivision process. Thus it is possible that a mutation can occurr within the host cell that circumvents the action of Tamiflu. This would allow the mutation to escape and invade other cells and through natural selection resistance to Tamiflu develops.

As Relenza prevents sub division it is difficult for me to see how resistance to relenza can develop or at least develop as easily as resistance potentially can develop to tamiflu.

I would argue that this is a key difference between the two approaches.