Key points from article :
Viral infections cause millions of deaths and enormous economic losses every year, with diseases like seasonal flu, dengue, hepatitis, HIV, and COVID-19 leading to severe consequences. Despite their significant impact, there are only a few antiviral treatments available. A potential breakthrough is a broad-spectrum antiviral— a "penicillin for viruses"— that could combat many different viruses at once.
A New Zealand-based start-up, Kimer Med, is working on such a drug called VTose. VTose aims to target a common feature of many viruses, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), which forms during viral replication. The drug would trigger infected cells to undergo apoptosis, or programmed cell death, preventing the virus from spreading.
While the idea is promising, there are significant hurdles. Previous attempts to develop a similar drug, DRACO, showed initial success but stalled due to funding issues. VTose now faces challenges related to safety, toxicity, and manufacturing, particularly since large molecules like VTose are more expensive to produce and regulate. If successful, VTose could revolutionize antiviral treatment, offering a powerful tool to combat future viral outbreaks.
