Before any drug is routinely given to millions of mildly ill people, however, the FDA must be convinced it is extremely safe. In testing so far, pleconaril seems to be free of side effects. Problems like upset stomachs happen just as often in people on dummy pills as in those getting the drug. Dr. Catherine Laughlin, chief of virology at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, says if pleconaril does do rare unwanted things, they may not be noticed until it is already in wide use. But since the drug thwarts a biological process that is unique to viruses, human ill effects are unlikely, at least in theory.
Viruses subvert cells for their own uses.
It's hard to find something that kills the virus and doesn't kill the cell. This drug is targeted at something that is unique to viruses. There are no similar cellular processes in the body. But you never know. Research does not go smoothly The inevitable layoffs began six years ago when a European company bought Sterling Winthrop's prescription drug business, and among those to go were the team developing pleconaril.