However, current drugs such as oseltamivir, which could inhibit neuraminidase, would become totally non-effective one day if the virus developed strong resistance towards the drugs.

According to Lau, the study revealed that "compound-1" was able to bind to the neuraminidase of the virus and it may overcome the drug resistance introduced by mutation of the virus.

"Researchers will enhance the binding to reduce the chance of the occurrence of drug resistance," Lau said, adding that it would take about five to eight years for the new drug to be resulted.

Besides, Lau told that by using computational analysis, the cost of this study had largely gone down and about two years of time have been saved, when compared with traditional research methods involving real-life demonstrations.

-- Click for more news in Tech Max >>

Editor:Yang Jie