New antiviral drug shows promise in fighting the common cold

It may solve the problem of overprescribing antibiotics for the frequent affliction, but some caution that it won't be effective against all cold-causing viruses.

By Victoria Stagg Elliott, AMNews staff. April 9, 2001.

Soon, there may be a new alternative to grandma's chicken soup.

Preliminary studies have demonstrated that an antiviral drug can lessen the duration and severity of the common cold.

Its potential clinical impact, however, remains unclear.

Pleconaril, an oral medication taken three times a day, could be on the market within a year, according to its manufacturer, ViroPharma Inc. It was effective at reducing the severity of symptoms within 24 hours of administration and lessening the duration by a day.

"These are the first pivotal studies in which patients receiving a drug targeted at the virus that causes the majority of common colds experienced a reduction in the severity and duration of their illness," said Mark McKinlay, PhD, vice president of research and development for ViroPharma Inc.

The study also suggested that the drug might affect the rate at which colds are spread because those who took it did not "shed" as much of the virus. "The reduction in viral shedding early in the treatment period gives us confidence to pursue additional indications for [pleconaril], particularly in the prevention of transmission," said Dr. McKinlay.

Cold experts, however, remain very skeptical. There was a flurry of announcements about potential new drugs approximately two years ago, but none have yet made it to market.

For example, Agouron Pharmaceuticals Inc., a division of Pfizer Inc., has been testing AG7088, a nasal spray that is being reformulated and is in the middle of phase II clinical trials. In addition, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc. was researching a drug named tremacamra. This medication has since been shelved. [...]