SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Drug target for curing the common cold
UK scientists believe they may have found a way to combat the common cold.
Rather than attacking the virus itself, which comes in hundreds of versions, the treatment targets the human host. It blocks a key protein in the body's cells that cold viruses normally hijack to self-replicate and spread. This should stop any cold virus in its tracks if given early enough, lab studies suggest [DOI: 10.1038/s41557-018-0039-2] [DX]. Safety trials in people could start within two years.
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. In the lab, it worked within minutes of being applied to human lung cells, targeting a human protein called NMT, Nature Chemistry journal reports.
Related: Vaccine Against the Common Cold may be Achievable
(Score: 3, Touché) by DavePolaschek on Wednesday May 16 2018, @06:21PM (1 child)
That's why it says
Killing the host is one way to make sure it doesn't catch a cold.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 17 2018, @05:03PM
I keep wondering why more people do not medicate with potassium cyanide,
it cures every disease and unlike the drugs from big pharma only has one minor side effect.