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Drug developed for curing the common cold

The treatment targets the human host of the virus by blocking a key protein


British researchers are working on a drug that combats common cold, BBC reports.

 

The treatment targets the human host of the virus by blocking a key protein in the body's cells that cold viruses normally hijack to self-replicate and spread.

 

The Imperial College London researchers are working on making a form of the drug that can be inhaled, to reduce the chance of side-effects. Safety trials in people could start within two years.

In the lab, the test drug worked within minutes of being applied to human lung cells, targeting a human protein called NMT. All strains of cold virus need this human protein to make new copies of themselves. The test drug completely blocked several strains of cold virus without appearing to harm the human cells in the lab.

 

The idea is that we could give it to someone when they first become infected and it would stop the virus being able to replicate and spread, researcher Prof Ed Tate explained to Nature Chemistry journal.

 

Further studies are needed to make sure it is not toxic in the body though.

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