The Development of Anti-inflammatory Drugs for Viral Diseases

Viral disease is traditionally thought to result from an insufficient response of the host to infection, leading to increased replication of viruses and consequently disease. However, the disease is not the simple result of uncontrolled replication of virus. Indeed, the inflammatory response triggered by certain infection is frequently the cause of tissue damage and death. This inflammatory situation can be called as immunopathologic phenomena. By understanding the mechanisms which drive disease, novel therapies may be devised for treatment of patients. I will describe the situations of some viral diseases in which unwanted (excessive, misplaced or altered) inflammation causes immunopathologic phenomena and is responsible for disease induction. In these situations, I will also describe some candidates of antiviral drug which inhibit or modulate the inflammatory response to viral infection.