The wide-spread resistance of influenza virus isolates to existing antivirals and the lack of a universal influenza vaccine makes imperative the development of new antivirals to treat influenza, more especially during pandemic years. Two recent publications that determine the crystal structure of the unique endonuclease domain of the influenza virus polymerase open the possibility for the rational design of novel influenza virus inhibitors. [after I edit kanta’s piece I will be writing a subhead that also include her commentary, you can comment on that subhead in proofs]