FDA approves emergency use of IV drug as H1N1 treatment

ROCKVILLE, Md. The Food and Drug Administration has authorized emergency use of an intravenous drug for patients with the influenza A (H1N1) admitted to hospitals.

The agency announced Friday that it had issued an emergency use authorization for BioCryst Pharmaceuticals’ investigational antiviral drug peramivir in patients who have not responded to oral or inhaled antivral therapy, for whom administration by any route other than intravenous is not feasible or when a clinician decides it is appropriate.

The drug is currently the only IV drug authorized for use under the EUA, though the FDA has not given final approval to any IV antiviral drugs for influenza.