Cure For The Common Cold?

Scientists on the verge of finding a vaccine that can work against common colds caused by different viruses.

18:52 23 November 2016

A cure for the common cold is something that has eluded the medical community for decades partly because the condition is caused by around 200 different viruses with the rhinovirus, coronavirus and respiratory syncytial virus being the most common.  

 

Professor Peter Openshaw, a professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London, said: ‘That makes it very hard to find a vaccine that would work against them all or a treatment that could work for them all,’

 

However, he added that they might be closing in, adding: ‘But I think we are on the verge of it, I really do.’

 

Together with his team, Prof Openshaw is testing a new nasal spray vaccine called SynGem in 36 volunteers. They are now waiting to see if the participants would produce immune cells that would kill the cold virus when it enters the body, a sign that the vaccine works. 

 

‘Colds can and do kill,’ says Professor Openshaw. 

 

‘Every year, there are many winter deaths, some of which are due to flu, but others are due to common cold viruses that can be fatal to the weak and the vulnerable.’