Common cold cure coming.
CanWest News Service
Wed 06 Oct 2004
Byline: David Finlayson
Source: CanWest News Service; Edmonton Journal
EDMONTON - The cure for the common cold may be a step closer with news that human trials of over-the-counter COLD-fX show it's effective in fighting infections.
The ginseng-based product was shown to help prevent infections, reduce the length and severity of symptoms, and cut the number of recurring colds.
University of Alberta researcher Tapan Basu, who conducted the clinical trial, called the findings ``highly significant.''
The research was paid for by CV Technologies, the company that makes the product. The trial results have been submitted to an industry publication for peer review. The review has yet to be published.
``The potential of COLD-fX is tremendous for prevention of recurrent upper respiratory viral infections, including colds and flu,'' Basu said Tuesday.
COLD-fX is one of several natural health products made by CV Technologies, a 12-year-old Edmonton-based U of A spinoff company.
It's the first clinical trial under Canada's new regulations for natural health products, and CV Technologies president Jacqueline Shan said it's an exciting time for the company and the industry. ``The results are very encouraging, and confirm our previous results.''
The findings may also provide clues to preventing other viral infections such as flu, she said.
The year-long trial of 323 people showed a 26-per-cent reduction in the average number and frequency of cold infections, and a 56-per-cent cut in recurrent infections, compared with a placebo group, the company announced Tuesday.
There was a 45-per-cent reduction in the total number of cold days suffered per participant, and a 31-per-cent reduction in the severity of their symptoms.
``This may give both the public and health-care providers further ammunition for preventing and managing viral-induced upper respiratory infections, including the common cold,'' Edmonton Capital Health's medical officer of health, Dr. Gerry Predy, said.
His department is interested in COLD-fX's ability to reduce infections among nursing home residents, he said.
Shan said COLD-fX, already being sold across Canada, is produced from an extract of North American ginseng in the same way Aspirin was isolated from the bark of the willow tree.
The active ingredients are not found in any other kind of ginseng, she said.
The company can produce COLD-fX fast enough to meet any new demand the trial results may create, but they want to focus on Canada before making a move into the U.S. market, she said.
The company's ginseng comes from B.C. and Ontario.
Sham said the number of people enrolled in the trial was large for this type of product.
Edmonton military mechanic Terry O'Neil, one of the participants given COLD-fX, said it was the first time in eight or nine years he didn't get a bad cold.
``I normally get three or four colds a winter because my kids bring them home,'' said O'Neil, 42.
``Last winter I had cold symptoms for one day and then they went away.''
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