# A Cure For the Common Cold? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 16, 2000, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cure-for-the-common-cold/6285 "2000-01-16T20:50:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2000, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cure-for-the-common-cold/6285/1 "2000-01-16T20:50:00Z")
Has anyone else seen this? [http://dallasnews.com/national/18460\_VIRUS16.html](http://dallasnews.com/national/18460_VIRUS16.html) It doesn’t mention if this will be available over the counter, or by prescription only. ## Also, how many pills does one need to ingest before they take effect? Do and you shall be. – Sarte Be and you shall do. – Camus Do be do be do. – Sinatra ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2000, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cure-for-the-common-cold/6285/2 "2000-01-16T21:22:00Z")
Doesn’t seem very scientific to me. There is no common cold, its a group of viruses. There is no way to know what the future viruses are anyway, in order to defend against them, see? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2000, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cure-for-the-common-cold/6285/3 "2000-01-16T21:46:00Z")
handy, if you read the article, you’d see that it attacks a whole category of viruses (169 all told) * * * – Teeming Millions: [http://fathom.org/teemingmillions](http://fathom.org/teemingmillions) “Meat flaps, yellow!” - DrainBead, naked co-ed Twister chat O p a l C a t [www.opalcat.com](http://www.opalcat.com) ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2000, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cure-for-the-common-cold/6285/4 "2000-01-16T22:32:00Z")
I’m more than a little skepctical. It’s dangerous to place your hopes on a mass media report of any kind of cure. The fact that the company that makes the drug is publicly traded makes me even more wary. Any hype is nothing but good for them. Whether it is at all useful in treating the cold in the real world remains to be seen, IMO. “Treatment” maybe, but a “cure”? I vote no way. The exciting thing from a scientific standpoint is that the drug was designed based on 3D stuctural studies of the virus. Most drugs are not designed that way, if they are designed at all. * * * We gladly devour those who would subdue us. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2000, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cure-for-the-common-cold/6285/5 "2000-01-16T23:13:00Z")
This probably is not all hype, although the title of this thread & the opening paragraph of the cited article may be: > [@](#): > > A **cure for the common cold** would be a big story all by itself. But how about a medicine that also stops viral meningitis? The summer flu? Deadly newborn infections? Even polio? I found this on MEDline. Please note it does NOT mention Pleconaril by name. Still, it sounds very like what was described in the Dallas article: > [@](#): > > \ > TITLE: Molecular dynamics investigation of the effect of an antiviral compound on human rhinovirus. > AUTHORS: Phelps DK; Post CB > AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, > Indiana 47907-1333, USA. > SOURCE: Protein Sci 1999Nov;8(11):2281-9 > CITATION IDS: > PMID: 10595531 UI: 20060980 > ABSTRACT: The factors that influence the enhanced stability observed experimentally of human rhinovirus 14 (HRV14) upon binding a hydrophobic antiviral drug have been investigated by molecular dynamics. Simulations centered about the HRV14 drug-binding pocket allow the reliable assessment of differences in capsid protein motions of HRV14 and drug-bound HRV14. We propose that the experimentally observed stabilization of the ligated virus arises from higher entropy, rather than enthalpy. Time-averaged interaction energies between the viral protein and molecules occupying the > pocket are less favorable in the presence of the drug, consistent with the proposal that the observed stability arises from entropic effects. Interaction energies characterizing subunit-subunit contacts within one viral protomer are found to be substantially stronger than those between two protomers. Such distinction in subunit interaction would have clear implications on assembly and disassembly. Drug binding is found to affect large- scale, collective properties, while leaving local atomic properties unperturbed. > Specifically, the simulations reveal a weakening of long- range correlations in atomic motions upon drug binding. On the other hand, neither the fast time scale RMS fluctuations of individual atomic positions nor the fluctuation build-up curves from the capsid beta- sandwich forming the drug-binding pocket show a consistent distinction between the drug-bound and drug-free viral simulations. Collectively, the detailed description available from the simulations provides an understanding of the > experimental observations on the drug-induced changes in thermal stability > and protease sensitivity reported for picornaviruses. The predicted significance of binding entropy can be explored experimentally and should be considered in the design of new antiviral compounds. > \ Bottom line: What the drug manufactuters hope to demonstrate: - This drug shortens the duration of rhinovirus infections, which cause most colds. It will cost $50-100/course (on top of the cost of a doctor’s visit for a prescription, assuming they are not trying for immeditate OTC approval.) Other “indications” (reasons for using this drug) are not cuurently under investigation, but this drug may be effective against influenza, polio, and other small RNA viruses from the family Picornaviria. It is NOT expected to have any role in combating viruses from other families, but will be effective against a wider array of virues than any other antiviral agent currently in use. * * * Sue from El Paso Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2000, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cure-for-the-common-cold/6285/6 "2000-01-17T02:23:00Z")
It should be noted that rhinovirus and enteroviruses are two of the common sub-groupings of the picornaviruses, presumably all of which have the same site to which the drug can attach and screw up the action of the virus. The drug should NOT be confused with an innoculation. It doesn’t work by making you unable to contract the virus; it works by making the affect of the virus on you less than it would be without the drug. This is, of course, a ‘cure’, as a cure doesn’t need to be an innoculation. It should be noted that the drug, taken in advance of exposure, appears to prevent the onset of symptoms in a large percentage of cases. However, the company in question is aware of the small chance of large numbers of people taking daily doses to avoid a cold. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2000, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cure-for-the-common-cold/6285/7 "2000-01-17T04:13:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Alphagene: > \*\* > The exciting thing from a scientific standpoint is that the drug was designed based on 3D stuctural studies of the virus. Most drugs are not designed that way, if they are designed at all. > > \*\* Right. This seems to be a step forward from antibiotics, which attack all bacteria, even those we’d prefer to keep. > [@](#): > > Originally posted by Majormd: > \*\* > What the drug manufactuters hope to demonstrate: > > - This drug shortens the duration of rhinovirus infections, which cause most colds. > > Other “indications” (reasons for using this drug) are not cuurently under investigation, but this drug may be effective against influenza, polio, and other small RNA viruses from the family Picornaviria. It is NOT expected to have any role in combating viruses from other families, but will be effective against a wider array of virues than any other antiviral agent currently in use. > > \*\* Thank you for your feedback, Sue. By shortening the duration, it might also help prevent the further spread of colds, as those who won’t stay home and get plenty of rest when infected won’t be transmitting them amongst the rest of us quite as long, if this medication works. This is not to say that it will eliminate them, only reduce them. As for fighting the rest of the diseases, the drug company doubtless wants to test the drug on them too, but they may be waiting to establish its effectiveness against colds first. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2000, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cure-for-the-common-cold/6285/8 "2000-01-17T16:34:00Z")
At least they have a real product right now you can take against the influenza. Makes it milder. Costs $60.00 about. Plus Doc visit, at least +$100.00 here. I wouldn’t pay $120 to make a cold milder, assuming that’s what it would do. There aren’t all that many cold type viruses & I probably already got most of them.