Most Antiviral Drugs Commonly Used To Treat Non-Severe Influenza Have Little Or No Effect On Key Clinical Outcomes, Research Finds

MedPage Today (1/13, DeBenedette) reports, “Antiviral drugs commonly used to treat non-severe influenza appeared to have little or no effect on key clinical outcomes, except for baloxavir (Xofluza), according to a systematic review and meta-analysis of 73 randomized trials.” Researchers found that “compared with standard care or placebo, all antiviral drugs had little or no effect on mortality for low- and high-risk patients (all high certainty), but baloxavir likely reduced risk of hospital admission in high-risk patients...and probably reduced symptom duration.” But, “baloxavir may have resulted in treatment resistance in approximately 10% of those treated, the authors noted.” The findings were published in JAMA Internal Medicine.