A compound found in chocolate, combined with a lesser-known drug, could offer a potent new treatment for influenza, outperforming the current leading medication Tamiflu, according to a new study.
The research, published in the journal PNAS, found that the combination of theobromine – naturally present in cocoa – and arainosine targets the M2 ion channel of the influenza virus, a critical pathway the virus uses to replicate and spread. Blocking this channel effectively cuts off the virus’s ability to survive.
In laboratory tests on cell cultures and animal models, the drug duo outperformed oseltamivir (Tamiflu) even against drug-resistant strains of the virus, including bird flu and swine flu. The researchers identified the combination by scanning a library of repurposed compounds originally developed for other diseases.
“We’re not just offering a better flu drug, we’re introducing a new way to target viruses – one that may help us prepare for future pandemics,” said co-author Isaiah Arkin. The team also noted that the potential for the virus to develop resistance to the combination is “significantly smaller” than with existing treatments.
Current flu drugs like Tamiflu target a viral protein that mutates frequently, reducing their effectiveness over time. The new approach focuses instead on the M2 ion channel, which is more stable. The study highlights the ongoing threat of flu pandemics, such as the 2009 swine flu outbreak that caused over 284,000 deaths, and the economic damage from bird flu, including a recent US outbreak that led to the loss of 40 million birds.
The scientists concluded that the combination represents a new potential treatment option for influenza, with an approach that could be applied to other viral targets.
