Inhibition of novel reassortant avian influenza H7N9 virus infection in vitro with three antiviral drugs, oseltamivir, peramivir and favipiravir.

Background:A novel reassortant avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus was isolated from respiratory specimens obtained from three patients and was identified as H7N9 in China. Antiviral agents are required to treat patients with avian influenza H7N9 virus infection.Methods:In this study, we assessed the antiviral potential of oseltamivir, peramivir, favipiravir (T-705), amantadine and rimantadine against novel reassortant avian-origin influenza H7N9 virus in vitro.Results:All three avian influenza H7N9 virus strains were sensitive to oseltamivir, peramivir and favipiravir (T-705), but resistant to amantadine and rimantadine.Conclusions:Our data show a pattern of antiviral sensitivity for this novel H7N9 strain of influenza that suggests the compounds oseltamivir, peramivir and favipiravir should be useful for therapy.