Breakthrough in Flu Treatment: Prof. Isaiah Arkin Publishes in PNAS
Professor Isaiah Arkin has achieved a significant breakthrough in the fight against influenza with his recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Employing an innovative bacteria-based screening method, his team discovered a powerful antiviral combination—comprising theobromine (a compound present in chocolate) and arainosine—that effectively inhibits the influenza virus’s M2 channel. This drug duo not only surpasses the efficacy of oseltamivir, the current leading treatment, but also demonstrates strong effectiveness against both swine and avian flu strains, including those resistant to traditional therapies. Notably, this combination exhibits a substantially lower risk of resistance development. Professor Arkin’s work underscores a promising new approach for antiviral drug discovery, with potential applicability to other viruses.
Reference: H. Lahiri,E. Israeli,M. Krugliak,K. Basu,Y. Britan-Rosich,T. Ravins Yaish, & I.T. Arkin, A bacteria-based search for drugs against avian and swine flu yields a potent and resistance-resilient channel blocker, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2025, 122 (31) e2502240122, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2502240122 (2025).
