A cure for the sniffles has long eluded science, but research teams in Newcastle and Melbourne have just received $6.3 million for trials of a molecule they hope can block the virus that is responsible for three-quarters of all colds.
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The culprit that the scientists from Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) and University of Melbourne are after is rhinovirus, better known as the 'common cold virus'.
Despite the fact most people get laid low with rhinovirus two or three times a year, little research has previously gone in to combating it compared to its fellow respiratory infection, the much-talked about influenza.
"The flu gets all the publicity because it comes in a pandemic,” Dr Nathan Bartlett, a University of Newcastle viral immunologist, said.
“But people are waking up to the fact there's this insidious other little virus which costs society a huge amount in lost productivity, and is a big problem medically for people with existing respiratory diseases like asthma."
Dr Bartlett spent 13 years at Imperial College in London, where he perfected a way of consistently producing rhinovirus in the laboratory.
This work meant that humans would not have to be infected with the virus in order to test cures.
His reputation led University of Melbourne microbiologist Professor David Jackson to get in touch, and ask Dr Bartlett to join his project developing a molecule called a 'TLR agonist'.
It is hoped the molecule can stimulate the body's immune system to prevent rhinovirus infections.
Dr Bartlett agreed to Professor Jackson’s request, and in 2015 transferred his work to HRMI's respiratory research program, which he said was world-renowned.
The scientists are experimenting with the best way to deliver the 'TLR agonist' directly to the respiratory tract, aiming to block viral infections at their source, where traditional cold remedies can only dampen the symptoms.
"Using cells donated by patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, we've identified disease triggering events in how the [airway tissue] responds to the virus and interacts with the airway immune system," Dr Bartlett said.
The $6.3 million investment, which has come from Australian venture investors Brandon Capital Partners and Uniseed, will be used to prepare the cold virus remedy for human trials.
This is the first step toward gaining lucrative approval by the US Food & Drug Administration.
Sufferers of respiratory diseases like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease will be the first treated by the remedy, because Dr Bartlett said they represented the greatest unmet need.
"Rhinovirus is known to trigger asthma attacks, so stopping that would be a huge breakthough," he said.
The remedy could even be delivered through an asthma 'puffer', although Dr Bartlett said this was yet to be finalised.
A treatment aimed specifically at children is the next priority.
"There is a reason little kids always have snotty noses,” Dr Bartlett said.
“They are an easy mark for rhinovirus, and then of course they go home and pass it on to the family.”
The company formed to develop the cold virus remedy, Innavac, is part-owned by both the University of Melbourne and Hunter Medical Research Institute.
However after their capital injection, Brandon Capital Partners and Uniseed are now the company’s largest owners.
Innavac was a "small player" in what had become a global race to develop TLR agonists to combat cold viruses, Dr Bartlett admitted.
But he said the company had good reason to be optimistic.
"We're well placed compared to the big pharmaceutical companies, we've got the better molecule," Dr Bartlett said.
