American researchers said that finding a drug to treat the common cold is within their reach, after they managed to decipher the genetic code of 99 strains of the virus that causes these common colds. Stephen Leggett, an asthma expert at the University of Maryland, was quoted by the New York Times Friday as saying, “We are pretty sure we’ve discovered the secret, and that an effective treatment for the common cold is within reach.”

The drug relieves pain and obstruction of breath in more than twenty million people who suffer from asthma and millions of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Viral colds are believed to be the main cause of 50% of asthma infections.

However, an expert in antiviral drugs, Dr. Glenn Tlotson, said that it would be difficult to raise the interest of drug manufacturers, because the actual cost of this may exceed $ 700 million, in addition to the battles that may take place between funders and regulators in this field.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers indicate that people will not be encouraged to buy an expensive drug in order to treat an unpleasant disease, ruling out that the US Food and Drug Administration will agree to market a drug with negative effects for a disease of this mildness.

It is noteworthy that the vaccines currently used for colds are preventive and non-curative, and there are no effective treatments for colds. However, hand washing is the most effective preventive measure, while drinking hot drinks and resting is the best treatment