Do your kids have winter-long runny noses and weeks-long coughs? Mine aren't quite that bad, but they catch their share of colds, especially in the winter. And while my kids' immunity is pretty strong and they seem to bounce back to health in a matter of days, once they've given their germs to me, it's all over. And as I'm sure you all know, when Mama goes down, the family flounders.
Researchers have decoded 99 strains of cold virus genome. In those 99 they've found some common structures. Those common structures amount to a common vulnerability in colds that might open the way to producing drugs that might be effective against a broad range of cold viruses.
The reason given for not rushing into production on such a drug? It wouldn't be profitable because no one would be willing to spend money on curing something as "minor" as a cold. They're kidding right? With my rate of about 8 colds a year--90% of which develop into sinus infections which hang on for weeks--I'd give a major appendage in trade for a real cold cure.
There is a nod to this kind of concern, as the real use of such a drug would be in preventing more serious complications that stem from colds, notably asthma attacks. Whatever the reason, I do hope they will get going on this one right away. My family would benefit immensely from the eradication of colds from our lives. Wouldn't yours?
image: cold virus via nytimes.com. Kinda pretty, don't you think?
