A group of researchers from the Hanoi Pharmaceutical University has recently completed the research to produce Fludon H1 (Arbidol) that guards against both Type A/H1N1 and H5N1 virus infection. At present, Vietnam uses Tamiflu and Zanamivir to treat H1N1 and H5N1 patients.

According to Dr. Nguyen Hai Nam, head of the chemistry department at the Hanoi Pharmaceutical University, Arbidol has been researched by Russian medical specialists and licensed by many countries since 1973.

A number of countries have chosen Arbidol to treat Influenza Type A/H1N1 patients. The research results showed that Arbidol proved to be highly effective, and limited side-effects after trial tests on about 2 billion people.

Vietnamese scientists have been researching Arbidol since 2008. However, on Nov. 29, Vietnam’s Pharmaceutical Management Department announced its plan to import one million doses of Tamiflu for children.