Chemoenzmatic Synthesis of Novel Sialic Acid Analogues Related to the Potent Anti-Influenza Drug Relenza

Influenza is one of the most dangerous and costly afflictions known to man. In ground-breaking Australian research, an active and immutable site on the virus causing influenza has been characterised. This has allowed for the design of agents (sialidase inhibitors) which bind to the virus thereby shutting down its capacity to replicate. One of these agents, RelenzaTM, is a very strong binding agent and will shortly be marketed as the first drug for the treatment and/or prevention of influenza. This project seeks to exploit recently developed (by the applicants) chemoenzymatic methods for the synthesis of sialic acids in the preparation and testing of hither-to inaccessible 7-substituted analogues of the soon-to-be commercialised drug. There is a strong expectation that such analogues will represent excellent sialidase inhibitors. In the face of strong indications that overseas competitors are attempting to carry out research in this area it is important we bring our techniques