OncologySRI International To Screen Drugs That Fight 2009 H1N1 Influenza A
SRI International, an
independent, nonprofit research and development organization,
announced today that it will screen a library of well-characterized
drugs against the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus, previously known as
"swine flu." The work will be performed under a re contract
from the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (DMID) in
the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID),
part of the National Institutes of Health.
There is currently only one class of antiviral drugs, the
neuraminidase inhibitors, available to treat this H1N1 infection.
Identifying drugs from other chemical and mechanistic classes could
provide more effective alternatives to current therapies and make it
easier to provide sufficient quantities of drugs to a broad
population, should the need arise. The development of new treatments
may be expedited by screening drugs that have already
well-characterized safety and toxicity profiles.
"SRI has expertise in screening new and approved drugs, including the
development of novel uses for antibiotics and screening a library of
licensed drugs to find compounds that show efficacy against biothreat
agents. SRI appreciates the opportunity to apply its knowledge and
skills to screening drugs against H1N1 flu and contributing to the
overall understanding of the virus," said Amy Shurtleff, Ph.D., a
senior virologist in SRI International"s Biosciences Division, who
will lead this screening program.
Although the number of new 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus cases appears
to be slowing worldwide, viruses are unpredictable. In particular,
it is not known how this new virus will behave when the seasonal flu
season returns this fall and in subsequent years. Scientists are
looking at the Southern Hemisphere now, where the flu season will
begin soon, for any signs of changes in the H1N1 virus and how humans
respond to the infection.
SRI has a long and successful history of drug discovery and
development, which includes both screening of licensed drugs and
finding and studying new chemical and biological therapeutics and
vaccines. The virus will be handled in compliance with all
guidelines prescribed by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) for handling this strain of influenza. SRI
researchers will culture cell lines and study H1N1 virus growth under
well-controlled conditions. Next, they will begin testing the first
round of drugs. Assuming that some drugs show worthwhile efficacy and
potency, SRI will help develop a plan for preclinical and clinical
evaluation and regulatory approval.
SRI International
*See our Map Of H1N1 Outbreaks
*See our Mexico Swine Flu Blog