Coming Soon, A Cure For The Cold?

[4me2]

A cure for the common cold may be on the way.



Coughs and sneezes spread diseases

Scientists in Australia are hopeful that they have come up with a pill that will put many of us out of our misery when suffering from the winter hazard.
Trials with British volunteers started this week and, if successful, the pill could be on the market within five years.
A cure for the cold has long been sought after by drug makers who know that an effective remedy would be highly profitable.
Tests on the drug, known as BTA 798, have already shown that it can kill large quantities of the cold virus within hours.
The next thing the scientists want to find out is whether it can actually prevent them starting.
The drug is being tested by Australian company Biota Holdings, which also developed the flu treatment Relenza.
If successful, the drug is expected to be directed initially towards high-risk groups - those who are vulnerable to infection, such as those with asthma, bronchitis and cystic fibrosis.
Members of the medical world say the drug, if it is proved to work, is a great idea.
"I definitely think it's a good idea for the treatment of the common cold if it works - and only time will tell as far as that is concerned" said Professor Sebastian Johnston of Imperial College's National Heart and Lung Institute.
"For it to be effective, it would have to be taken very quickly at the first signs of infection or contact with someone with a cold," the professor told Sky News Online.
Where he has highest hopes for it long term is in the treatment of people suffering from asthma and chronic obstructive lung diseases such as bronchitis and emphysema.
Professor Johnston - who specialises in studying these conditions - says this group of people would benefit most from prevention rather than cure.
"Acute attacks can kill," he points out.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Hea...BIllness%2BFlu

[blaggard]

Since there are loads (hundreds I think) of virii responsible for the common cold symptons this seems unlikely!

Of course I may be full of shit but I'm sure I've read it somewhere

[CzarJunkie]

It'll never happen. How much money do you think is made from over the counter cold and cough remedies? If they do develop something that is successful one of the big pharmaceutical companies will buy it and shelve it.

[Spennyboy]

It'll never happen. How much money do you think is made from over the counter cold and cough remedies? If they do develop something that is successful one of the big pharmaceutical companies will buy it and shelve it.

Very true.

I've always thought that doctors/nhs etc are never fully comited to 'curing' us, just making what ever the problem is manageable one way or the other.

[Freddy]

It'll never happen. How much money do you think is made from over the counter cold and cough remedies? If they do develop something that is successful one of the big pharmaceutical companies will buy it and shelve it.

Exactly. No money in cures.

[doughboy]

Exactly. No money in cures.

Quite, healthy people are bad business.

Plus colds have nothing to do with winter.

edit:

which leads to the question...how many viruses are man-made in order to offer a fix??

fucking most I bet

[Nibb]

The nature of the cold and flu virus means that it constantly mutates so this will never 100% wipe out the virii but will be highly profitable if it can reduce the period of time that a dose of flu/cold affects people to a minimum, rather than the current medicines which just treat the symptoms.

[greaseweasel]

This forum has so many specialists and experts.

You should all get together and beat cancer

[ss30]

It'll never happen. How much money do you think is made from over the counter cold and cough remedies? If they do develop something that is successful one of the big pharmaceutical companies will buy it and shelve it.

I wonder how many other things could be made better or last longer to be more ecnomical but arnt because companys would loose money.

[CzarJunkie]

I wonder how many other things could be made better or last longer to be more ecnomical but arnt because companys would loose money.

It's an accepted business practice to buy inventions/patented products and shelve them if you feel they will harm your core business. Pharmaceutical companies are among the most ruthless of businesses and their whole business model is based on maximising repeat custom. You can't acheive repeat custom by curing people.

[ant3b]

You will never cure the cold.. it mutates far to often.. what a load of crock but maybe killing certain strains!

[greaseweasel]

The cold virus mutates by one of two proteins which then fools the immune system, if you can lock on to them elsewhere and deactivate it then you can potentially stop the virus. Its not impossible, just difficult.
The problem comes when they inevitably become resistant and then we have "super colds".

[cassy34]

It's an accepted business practice to buy inventions/patented products and shelve them if you feel they will harm your core business. Pharmaceutical companies are among the most ruthless of businesses and their whole business model is based on maximising repeat custom. You can't acheive repeat custom by curing people.

But you will have repeat custom. You have to take this drug at the first sign of a cold and repeat the next time you feel a cold coming on. If it worked, they could probably charge around £40 - £50 a pop whilst screwing their competitors in the meantime.

If I read it right, this is not one pill for life, it's one pill for each cold.