Roche’s two new observational studies concluded that influenza patients treated with Tamiflu had significantly higher survival rates than untreated patients. The studies, examining nearly 1,000 people, analysed outcomes for two different groups – adults and children diagnosed with the highly pathogenic A (H5N1) avian influenza and adults hospitalised with seasonal influenza.
The first study examined outcome data for 215 patients from 10 countries who were diagnosed with the virulent A (H5N1) avian influenza.
Reportedly, the study found that untreated patients had a mortality rate of 88%, with 11 out of 89 untreated patients surviving, in contrast to survival of 45 out of 85 patients who received at least one dose of Tamiflu up to 8 days after symptom onset. Among a subset of patients who received Tamiflu within 2 days of symptom onset, 5 out of 7 patients survived.
However, the second study analysed 760 patients hospitalised with severe seasonal influenza, half of whom received Tamiflu. The majority of these patients were older and 60% had underlying chronic illnesses. The data showed that the rate of mortality was reduced by 37% in patients treated with Tamiflu compared to patients who were not treated.
Dominick Iacuzio, medical director at Roche, said: “These retrospective studies support the potential benefits of antiviral treatment in severe cases of influenza. While Tamiflu is approved and used in many countries to treat and prevent all types of A and B influenza, these ‘real-world’ studies contribute to the body of clinical evidence.
“These data confirm the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment with Tamiflu. They also support previous studies indicating that treatment may still beneficial even after 48 hours.”