A cure possible for the common cold . . .? Title is link.

The adenovirus is the number one cause of the common cold and can be deadly for organ transplant recipients; my brother is one of those recipients, so news like this hits home.

Scientists at Saint Louis University have made two key discoveries that could lead to the first-ever human testing of a drug to target the adenovirus, which causes a number of severe upper-respiratory infections and is one of many viruses that causes the common cold.

There are 52 known strains, of adenovirus in humans. They generally cause acute upper respiratory infections including colds, tonsillitis and ear infections, but they can also cause conjunctivitis, gastroenteritis and bladder infections, all unpleasant.

The drug, CMX001, is currently under development by Chimerix, Inc.

Healthy individuals can recover from adenovirus infection, but for those with a weakened
or undeveloped immune system the infection can prove fatal.

So, for me, this is hopeful news, and my cold plagued nose agrees.


Raven

Shorter Colds Research Link

Further Research Link