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SCIENCE POLICY
Concerted efforts are being made to develop treatments and diagnostics for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). On May 30, researchers and clinicians from academe, government, and industry met at NIH to map out a research agenda to combat the disease. Scientists have determined that SARS is caused by a novel human coronavirus and have sequenced the virus' RNA genome. Attendees of "SARS: Developing a Research Response" identified further research needs. Obtaining an effective treatment for SARS is a high priority. The U.S. Army Research Institute of Infectious Disease (USAMRIID), NIH's National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) have been screening chemical compounds for activity against the virus. John W. Huggins, chief of the viral therapeutics branch at USAMRIID, reported that ribavirin, an antiviral drug that's been used to treat some SARS patients, shows no activity. He noted that the antiviral drug rimantadine and Scientists working on a SARS vaccine are trying a number of different approaches, including producing a weakened version of the SARS coronavirus that might protect recipients against the SARS virus itself. Identifying individuals infected with SARS may help to contain its spread. Independently, CDC and private firms have already developed polymerase chain-reaction-based tests that yield more rapid results than previous tests. |
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Chemical & Engineering News |
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-interferon, proteins that stimulate the immune system, show some activity. And a number of cysteine protease inhibitors given to USAMRIID by drug companies are "looking pretty interesting," Huggins said. He predicted that it would not take long to identify promising candidates from the screening effort.
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