19 January 2012 - Cochrane review of neuraminidase inhibitors for preventing and treating influenza
The Cochrane Library has published an updated Cochrane Review of neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir) for the prevention and treatment of influenza in adults and children. Using methods which have been updated to address the risk of reporting bias, the analysis questions the effectiveness of oseltamivir, stating that whilst it shortens flu symptoms by about a day, there is no evidence that it reduces hospital admissions. The researchers also conclude that they were not able to gather enough data to conclude whether oseltamivir reduces flu complications and transmission. The authors also question the safety of oseltamivir, saying that some reports of adverse events were not included in the published reports of clinical trials. . Roche, the manufacturers of oseltamivir, say that clinical trials and medical experience have shown that oseltamivir is effective and usually well tolerated, but the authors say in the report that the company witheld some data that they requested. The report abstract and accompanying editorial can be accessed at:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD008965.pub3/abstract http://www.thecochranelibrary.com/details/editorial/1442857/Neuraminidase-inhibitors-for-influenza-methods-change-principles-dont.html
