. Ideally,
the next generation of antivirus drug should have strong potency
against a broad range of current resistant strains with a much higher
resistance barrier. A number of small-molecule based drugs have
been identified through structure-based drug design and in vitro or
in vivo screening. A few have advanced into different phases of
clinical trials. They may provide new options for drug treatment and
prevention of influenza virus A infections in the near future, either
alone or in combination with other drugs, to keep flu pandemics
under check.