Volume 15, Number 3—March 2009
Perspective
Meeting the Challenge of Influenza Pandemic Preparedness in Developing Countries
Table 3
Research agenda to establish whether generic agents could be used for treatment and prophylaxis of a pandemic caused by a subtype H5N1-like influenza
1. Test candidate treatment regimens in mice, ferrets, and nonhuman primates to identify specific generic agents that might be effective in managing a pandemic |
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2. Study promising generic treatments in cell culture and animals to define the molecular mechanisms that explain their beneficial effects against influenza virus A (H5N1) and 1918-like influenza viruses |
3. Conduct a global analysis to identify developing countries where these generic agents are produced and determine quantities produced, surge capacities, patterns of distribution, and costs to public programs |
4. Establish an international process to coordinate or manage the stockpiling of generic agents and/or their distribution once a pandemic virus has emerged |
5. Plan to conduct randomized controlled trials of promising generic treatments immediately after the emergence of a new pandemic virus |