Breakthrough antiviral claim

Hong Kong scientists claim they have made a potential breakthrough discovery in the fight against infectious diseases – a chemical that could slow the spread of deadly viral illnesses.

A team from the University of Hong Kong described the chemical as “highly potent in interrupting the life cycle of diverse viruses” in a study published in January in the journal Nature Communications.

The scientists said on Monday it could one day be used as a broad-spectrum antiviral for a host of infectious diseases – and even for viruses that have yet to emerge trials.

The spread in recent decades of deadly bird flu strains, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) have underscored the need for new drugs that can work more quickly than vaccines.

Broad-spectrum antivirals can be used against multiple pathogens. In contrast, vaccines only protect against one strain.

The HKU team tested their chemical “AM580” on mice in a two-year study and found it stopped the replication of a – if it passes clinical host of flu strains, as well as the viruses that cause SARS and MERS.

It also stopped the replication of the mosquito-borne Zika virus and Enterovirus 71 which causes hand, foot and mouth disease.

The next step is to test the drug on a wider variety of animals before pushing to clinical trials, a process that could take up to eight years.

A derivative of AM580 is already being used in Japan to treat cancer, raising hopes that it will show low toxicity for humans. –