Sensitivity of various influenza virus strains to arbidol. Influence of arbidol combination with different antiviral drugs on reproduction of influenza virus A

Objective: To study antiviral activity of arbidol in relation to various antigenic subtypes of influenza virus isolated from humans; efficacy of arbidol action in combination with adamantanic antiviral drugs, ribavirin and ribamidil on reproduction of influenza virus A (IVA) in cell culture.

Methods: The activity of the drugs against viral reproduction was assessed by inhibition of viral antigens expression detected in virus-infected cells using enzyme immunoassay (EIA).

Results: Arbidol is not inferior to adamantanic drugs, neuraminidase inhibitors, ribavirin and ribamidil by its inhibiting activity in relation to influenza viruses A and B. Arbidol inhibits reproduction of human IVA antigenic strains H1N1, H2N2, H3N2 and remantadin-sensitive and remantadin-resistant strains of influenza virus. Arbidol inhibits reproduction of pathogenic for humans strains of avian influenza virus H5N1 and H9N2, strains H6N1 and H9N2 having internal genes common with H5N1 and H9N2. The inhibiting activity of arbidolin on cell culture viral reproduction enhanced if arbidol was used in combination with amantadine, remantadin, ribavirin and ribamidil.

Conclusions: Arbidol has a wide spectrum antiviral activity and inhibits reproduction of various antigenic subtypes and remantadin-resistent human IVA, avian viruses H5N1 and H9N2, influenza viruses B and C.