Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain
the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in
Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles
and JavaScript.
The threat of an influenza pandemic has heightened the need for therapeutic strategies to combat this virus. This article provides a historical perspective on the discovery and development of two drugs that are at the forefront of our defences against influenza — the sialdiase inhibitors zanamivir and oseltamivir — highlighting the value of structure-based drug design in this process.
