Finding an effective cure for the common cold has long been one of medical science’s most basic and elusive goals, but it might now be within our sights, thanks to the completion of research to decode the genome of the common cold virus.
A team of researchers at the University of Maryland and the University of Wisconsin recently announced that they had decoded the genomes of all 99 strains of the virus which causes the common cold. In addition, they said, they had also cataloged the virus’s basic vulnerabilities. Those vulnerabilities could, with the right targeted research, be used to develop drugs which might prove to be effective treatments, even cures, for the common cold.
A Cold Isn’t a Big Deal
It’s unpleasant to deal with, but not dangerous. But for the twenty million people with asthma, and the millions of others suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, a cold can be a serious, even life-threatening, disease. In fact, it’s thought that the common cold triggers approximately half of all asthma attacks.
Developing a cold cure has been difficult simply because the Rhinovirus virus that causes the cold is highly variable, with 99 different strains known to cause infection.
However, the researchers have discovered that all 99 strains have certain genetic sequences in common – and these shared sequences could be used as a drug target. In essence, a targeted drug could be an effective treatment for all 99 strains – including those that trigger problems for people with asthma and other respiratory conditions.
Even so, the possibility of a cold cure doesn’t mean that drug companies will be lining up to start development. With the typical cost of drug development running to $700 million, many companies may decide it’s simply not worth it.
Drug development is a long process often punctuated with problems from legislators, financiers, and others. Colds, however, are generally not serious or lengthy illnesses, and that means most consumers won’t be willing to pay for an expensive cure, no matter how effective it might be.
Another potential problem is the fact that any drug with potentially serious side effects isn’t likely to get FDA approval, since the common cold is generally a mild disease.
photo credit: Meg Stewart
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