Smallpox drug could be used for the common cold

Scientists have found that a drug used for smallpox could be used to target the virus which causes the common cold.

Researchers from the Saint Louis University have found that hexadecyloxypropyl-cidofovir could potentially be used in human tests to target the adenovirus, which can cause a number of upper-respiratory infections.

The team used an animal model suitable for adenovirus testing using hamsters and found that the drug successfully attacked the virus in the animals. The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

According to the study, there are 52 known strains of adenovirus in humans which cause colds, tonsillitis and ear infections. The infections can be deadly in young children and people with weakened immune systems.

William Wold, lead author of the study, said: "This is exciting news and a major step forward in finding a drug to treat adenovirus infections in humans."

Hexadecyloxypropyl-cidofovir is currently used as a treatment to block the activity of the virus which causes smallpox and orthopox viruses, halting their ability to replicate and spread, according to bio-medicine.org.