health
New 'milestone' jab may prevent winter coughs and colds by blocking 180 strains
A ‘MILESTONE’ jab could combat colds and coughs before they strike, promising trial results show.
TL;DR
- A new vaccine candidate targeting three main rhinovirus species has shown promising early trial results.
- The jab was well-tolerated in 144 healthy adults aged 18-54 in a phase one trial.
- Rhinoviruses cause common colds, which can exacerbate conditions like asthma and COPD.
- The vaccine development is seen as a significant milestone due to the difficulty of targeting rhinovirus's ~180 strains.
- Researchers are analyzing data for a two-dose regimen in individuals aged 55 and over.
- The vaccine is being developed by Imperial College London and Apollo Therapeutics.
- This represents a potential preventative approach for exacerbations caused by rhinovirus in COPD and asthma patients.