You know the routine, and you fear it. It strikes every winter, leaving scores of suffering humans in its path of destruction. First comes the sneezing followed by the stuffy nose and finally the pounding headaches that heap even more misery upon your already wretched existence. You have a cold.
But cold sufferers may be in luck. The Food and Drug Administration now is reviewing a new antiviral drug named Picovir. University researcher and infectious disease specialist Frederick Hayden conducted human trials on the drug that promises to offer relief to those suffering from the sniffles.
The FDA is set to make a decision on Picovir in May, Hayden said.
Picovir is not just another garden variety over-the-counter cold medication. Widely available drugs like Tylenol and Nyquil may partially relieve cold symptoms, but Picovir actually attacks the viruses that together cause half of all colds.
"There's a lot of money wasted right now on Echinacea and stuff like that when there's no scientific evidence that they really work," Hayden said.
Echinacea is an herb that some claim can remedy the common cold.
"Their decision could be to say no, or it could be yes, or it could be potentially approvable if we do additional studies," he said.
Clinical evaluation of Picovir began as far back as 1993, after undergoing a whopping nine years of testing by May.
|
||||||||||||||||
The common cold is the number one medical complaint doctors hear, and it is no wonder. Experts have estimated that Americans contract between 500 million and one billion colds annually, said Joe Chance, director of general medicine at Elson Student Health Center.
University students on average catch four to six colds each year and report a total of 5,000 colds annually, Chance said.
This adds up to a lot of sick students fantasizing about a cure for the common cold. While students may think over-the-counter drugs will cure them, such remedies typically only relieve symptoms. Picovir is unique in that it actually seeks out and destroys the offending cold virus.
Scientists refer to these viral culprits as picornaviruses, since the microbes are very small ("pico") and they store their genetic information on molecules of RNA.
Picovir works by sticking to the protein coat of cold viruses and altering their overall shape. Not only does this prevent viruses from invading healthy cells, but it also breaks down the virus itself.
"I think that this is a very promising drug," Hayden said. He hopes the new drug will replace other medications that are used improperly, noting that doctors commonly prescribe antibiotics for cold complaints even though bacteria are rarely the cause.
The versatility of Picovir may extend beyond just curing colds. Jos
Read More
Department of Education reverses course, awards Federal Executive Institute to U.Va.
By Ford McCracken | 2 days agoThe ED had previously awarded the institute to Charlottesville City Schools.
Students reflect on the life and legacy of Pope Francis
By Bertie Azqueta | 3 days agoAt the University, students shared a range of perspectives on his legacy of reform, inclusivity and his impact on the global Catholic community.
What does the University’s contract with dining service Aramark entail?
By Brandon Kile | 4 days agoThe Cavalier Daily submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the University for its contract with Aramark to understand the specific terms of the agreement.
