An end to sniffling, coughing, aching, and other miseries from the common cold may be in sight. Australian drugmaker Biota has developed an antiviral compound called Vapendavir that stops symptoms of the common cold dead in their tracks.
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II clinical trial included 300 asthmatic patients who were infected with the human rhinovirus (HRV) — an infection that causes the "cold." Patients who took Vapendavir began overcoming their symptoms after 1.7 days — and recovered quickly — compared to patients given a placebo whose cold symptoms intensified after 2.5 days.
While not a cure for the cold, the tablet, which prevents rhinoviruses from attaching to receptors on the surface of cells, can rapidly reduce the duration and intensity of a cold. Curbing the effects of colds is of special importance to asthmatics. Colds are one of the biggest causes of asthma flare-ups, and the wheezing and other symptoms of asthma may not respond as well to asthma medications during a cold.
"This trial not only represents a valuable step in the successful delivery of one of Biota's key programs, but it is also a unique accomplishment in the field of antiviral development," Biota CEO Peter Cook said in a statement. "While the clinical link between HRV infection and loss of asthma control is now widely accepted, Biota is the first company to evaluate the use of an antiviral to treat the infection in asthmatics. This has the potential to be of considerable benefit to sufferers through better control of their asthma."
Biota is in the process of planning Phase III clinical trials.