This treatment has been shown to be effective against 100% of the viruses tested. In particular, respiratory viruses such as the flu, Covid-19, but also Zika, Ebola…
Imagine a winter without colds, stomach upset or flu. Or travel to any country without fear of dengue or Ebola infection. However, this difficult to believe scenario could soon see the light of day. American immunogenetics researchers have imagined a revolutionary drug capable of blocking any known virus, from simple mild infections to the most deadly pathologies.
It all starts from a fascinating discovery made by Professor Dusan Bogunovic, professor of immunogenetics at Columbia University in New York. By studying individuals with a rare genetic mutation (a deficiency of the ISG15 protein), he noticed that they were naturally protected against all viruses. Their secret? Their body keeps their immune system on constant alert, creating a shield that prevents viruses from taking hold. To offer this “superpower” to the rest of the population, his team created a drug (administered by a simple nasal spray) which contains instructions for using this immunity. Once in the nose, it teaches our cells to produce a brigade of 10 elite proteins that lock the entrance to the body and completely block any invader.
Unlike current treatments which target a specific virus (like Tamiflu for the flu for example), this new drug is a broad-spectrum antiviral. In laboratory and animal tests, the results of which were published in the summer of 2025 in the journal Science Translational Medicine, it was effective against 100% of the viruses tested. In particular, respiratory viruses such as influenza A and B, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and all its variants, tropical viruses (Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya), deadly viruses (Ebola, Marburg virus). But also childhood illnesses (measles, mumps, chickenpox). “Our technology is progressing, but it is not yet perfectexplains Professor Bogunovic, interviewed on BBC Science Focus. It is also necessary to take into account that this is a new class of drugs against infections, which is very expensive to develop.”
When could we obtain it in France? Clinical trials on humans are expected to begin within two years (around 2027-2028). In France, as in the rest of the European Union, the drug must obtain the green light from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) after having proven its safety. If the trials are conclusive and governments support the project, this universal drug could arrive in our pharmacies within 5 to 10 years. Ultimately, it could be used as antibiotics are for bacteria: a universal treatment to relieve symptoms and prevent serious forms, thus saving millions of lives.
Although the promise of a universal drug is attractive, the road to commercialization remains long and fraught with pitfalls. The main challenge is that of toxicity: by modifying the immune response or by targeting components that viruses share with our own cells, researchers must ensure that the remedy does not attack the patient’s body by mistake (hence the interest in clinical trials on humans). Added to this are development costs estimated at around a billion dollars, which hampers private laboratories. “How to conduct a clinical trial for a universal antiviral? You have to do it virus by virus, which makes it extremely expensive.“, confirms the professor of immunogenetics. Without massive public financial support to build up global stocks, this revolutionary treatment risks remaining stuck at the research stage.
