Inhibitors of the M2 channel of influenza A virus

Abstract

Influenza is a highly contagious, major respiratory tract disease affecting millions of people each year. At present, two classes of antivirals are available: the neuraminidase inhibitors and the M2 proton channel blockers amantadine and rimantadine. However, rapid emergence of M2 blockers resistance makes imperative the development of new anti-influenza drugs. In the last few years several groups have synthesized and evaluated several analogs of amantadine. While several of them are active against wild-type M2 channel only a few are able to inhibit the mutant ion channels that lead to amantadine-resistance.