Nitazoxanide is a synthetic nitrothiazolyl-salicylamide derivative and an antiprotozoal agent. (IC50 for canine influenza virus ranges from 0.17 to 0.21 μM).Target: OthersNitazoxanide is a synthetic nitrothiazolyl-salicylamide derivative and an antiprotozoal agent. In vitro studies demonstrated much broader activity. Dr. Rossignol co-founded Romark Laboratories, with the goal of bringing nitazoxanide to market as an anti-parasitic drug. Initial studies in the USA were conducted in collaboration with Unimed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Marietta, GA) and focused on development of the drug for treatment of cryptosporidiosis in AIDS.The anti-protozoal activity of nitazoxanide is believed to be due to interference with the pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) enzyme dependent electron transfer reaction which is essential to anaerobic energy metabolism. It has also been shown to have activity against influenza A virus in vitro. The mechanism appears to be by selectively blocking the maturation of the viral hemagglutinin at a stage preceding resistance to endoglycosidase H digestion. This impairs hemagglutinin intracellular trafficking and insertion of the protein into the host plasma membrane.

References:
[1]. Rossignol JF, et al. Thiazolides, a new class of anti-influenza molecules targeting viral hemagglutinin at the post-translational level. J Biol Chem. 2009 Oct 23;284(43):29798-808.
[2]. Somvanshi VS, et al. Nitazoxanide: Nematicidal mode of action and drug combination studies. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 2014 Jan 8;193(1):1-8.