Applying a tumor drug to influenza

This articles explains how an anti-tumor drug called DMXAA can help fight influenza. The drug was originally used to help prevent the growth of tumors, but scientists have observed that it increases the production of interferons by the immune system. The interferons aid the immune system in fighting the flu and other viruses. The researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine infected mice with the flu and administered DMXAA. The drug greatly reduced the severity of the infection. It also worked on strains of the flu that were resistant to Tamiflu. The also tested it on knockout mice with no interferon producing gene to confirm that interferon production was the method used to combat the viruses. The researchers hope that this drug will able to supplement flu vaccines that are often ineffective, and to help lessen the severity of infections for which there is no vaccine. They believe that this drug will be very effective in combating newly emerging strains of influenza.

This article meant a great deal to me because I have gotten the flu several times, and usually if one person in my family gets it several of us get it. It can last for a couple of weeks, and be very disruptive to schedules and plans. It would be great to have a medicine that could lessen the severity of flu, because even though it is considered a common, routine, disease, each year thousands of people die from it. This would especially help children, the elderly, and those with asthma and allergies. The applications it could have to other infections could make it much easier on doctors to fight infections, and if this discovery lives up to its expectations, it would greatly enhance the quality of life for millions of people, and help get rid of much of the uncertainty that comes with dealing with influenza.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110228104312.htm