One-dose treatment’s now new for flu

The Food and Drug Administration approved a new flu treatment yesterday for the first time in nearly 20 years — and just a single dose could have patients feeling better.

Xofluza, an antiviral drug taken as a single oral dose, can lessen flu symptoms and shorten the amount of time a patient is sick, according to results from recent clinical trials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the flu season is already well underway; the contagious respiratory illness impacts 5 to 20 percent of people in the U.S. every year.

“With thousands of people getting the flu every year, and many people becoming seriously ill, having safe and effective treatment alternatives is critical. This novel drug provides an important, additional treatment option,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb in a statement.

Xofluza must be taken within 48 hours of becoming sick with flu symptoms. However, the FDA warns that the new treatment is not a replacement for the flu shot, which the CDC recommends getting by the end of the month.

“Having more treatment options that work in different ways to attack the virus is important because flu viruses can become resistant to antiviral drugs.” said Dr. Debra Birnkrant, FDA director of the Division of Antiviral Products.

The most common adverse reactions to Xofluza include diarrhea and bronchitis. According to the CDC, the flu results in 200,000 hospitalizations in the United States each year. Timing of the flu season can be unpredictable but usually peaks between January and March. The CDC estimates that the economic burden of the flu — between medical expenses and lost earnings — totals over $87 billion each year in the U.S.