"CS-8958 Was shown to be as effective as oseltamivir"

  Being as effective as oseltamivir is an interesting phrase.

Tamiflu has serious flaws because H274Y forms of seasonal flu, bird flu, and swine flu are Tamiflu resistant;  but H274Y IS NOT RESISTANT TO LANIMIVIR OR RELENZA and the press try to understate the superiority of the alternative therapy. It's not simply a case of winning through funding and advertising, there are serious consequences.

  The reason Relenza is not available in an IV zanamivir treatment for serious lung congestion caused by influenza, the reason zanamivir is not available as a nebulized puffer which would treat younger children and the elderly more effectively,is because GSK gave up competing with the most efficient aspect of Tamiflu, the brilliant and over-enthusiastic advertising used by Roche which torpedoed Relenza sales and caused GSK to abandon completion of research developments because Relenza was a financial failure, despite the obvious need for an antiviral that can cure H274Y strains.

  Hope for all our sakes that bias that promotes Tamiflu doesn't destroy any further developments in more promising antivirals the way Relenza alternative therapies will never be manufacture by GSK except in exceptional "compassionate-use" in limitted experimental quantities.

"the supply of nebulized zanamivir is extremely limited. It was manufactured when GSK was actively developing the IV formulation. GSK feels it should be available worldwide for compassionate-use provided that appropriate regulatory mechanisms are in place. The remaining clinical trial material has been earmarked for compassionate-use. GSK has no intention to restart the manufacturing of zanamivir solution."

www.hhs.gov/.../nbsb-h1n1forum-sum-090617.pdf p71-72