Wonder Drug

In the continuing battle against disease, researchers have now come up with “Super Chew” , a new drug targeted at helping the human system combat common cold and flue.

It is a novel approach and considering the ease of administering the drug, possibly worth considering. But one wonders … Are we justified in tampering with nature to this extent? We discovered and invented antibiotics and antimicrobials, only to discover that their rampant use gave rise to superbugs that were resistant to these drugs.

Interferon alpha, the chemical used in the drug is something naturally produced in the body as a mediator in the response to infection and is one of the major factors in causing all the effects of a viral fever or a common cold. The common symptoms of a common cold or flue, to name a few, fever, bodyache, and malaise are caused more by the body’s response to the infection than by the infection itself.

Interferons as therapy are already being used in conditions like Viral Hepatitis B and C, many cancers, and autoimmune disorders. The side effects are many and in their mild forms, predominantly relate to flue like symptoms. However these side effects are considered acceptable in light of the benefits of therapy in eradicating or ameliorating a severe, life threatening condition.

So how administering more of the same stuff is going to reduce the severity of the symptoms (and possibly more importantly, why one would want to do that in what is anyway a mild illness) is something that one waits to see. And over-the-counter? Like we said, we wonder and wait …

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