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Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds
Published on: October 29, 2015
A case for developing antiviral drugs against polio
Marc S Collett1, Johan Neyts, John F Modlin
1ViroDefense Inc., 155 Gibbs Street, Suite 529, Rockville, MD 20850, United States. mscollett@aol.com
Antiviral Research
|June 3, 2008
Summary
Polio eradication is nearing, but challenges remain. Antiviral drugs are proposed to complement inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) for controlling future outbreaks and protecting populations.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Public Health
- Drug Development
Background:
- The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has successfully used oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) to approach global polio eradication.
- Continued OPV use faces challenges, including vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP) and circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs).
- Post-eradication, reliance solely on inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) may be insufficient to control potential cVDPV outbreaks or accidental releases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To advocate for the development and integration of antiviral drugs into the polio control strategy.
- To highlight the potential of antiviral therapies to manage outbreaks and protect individuals after OPV cessation.
Main Methods:
- This study presents a scientific argument based on existing knowledge of drug development for related viruses.
- It reviews the feasibility and potential of developing antiviral compounds targeting poliovirus.
- The argument is supported by historical success in developing drugs for rhinoviruses and non-polio enteroviruses (NPEVs).
Main Results:
- While no polio antiviral drugs currently exist, research on related viruses demonstrates technological feasibility.
- In vitro studies have identified compounds with anti-poliovirus activity, serving as potential starting points.
- Development of antiviral drugs is considered feasible with modest costs.
Conclusions:
- Antiviral drugs offer a promising complementary strategy to IPV for controlling poliovirus after OPV cessation.
- These drugs could rapidly contain outbreaks by treating infected individuals and protecting the exposed.
- Urgent stakeholder engagement is needed to advance polio drug development, given eradication and drug development timelines.
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