Chasing Life Why Haven't We Cured the Common Cold?
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Dec 12, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Arnold Monto, a veteran in public health and respiratory illnesses, and Dr. Gary McLean, an immunologist specializing in rhinovirus immunity, delve into the mystery of why the common cold remains uncured. They explore the economic burden of colds and the historical efforts to understand them, including the challenges posed by viral diversity. Dr. McLean shares insights on new T cell-focused vaccine approaches aimed at improving immunity, while they both discuss the complexities of traditional vaccine failures and potential future breakthroughs.
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Half-Century Of Limited Progress
- After 50 years studying colds, Dr. Arnold Monto says treatments haven’t fundamentally changed.
- The common cold remains largely self-limited with no cure or broad prevention yet.
Human Inoculation Advanced Discovery
- The Salisbury Common Cold Research Unit used human inoculation studies to identify cold-causing viruses.
- Those studies helped reveal coronaviruses as a cause of some common colds.
Pleconerol’s Unexpected Setback
- Pleconerol advanced to late-stage trials but affected menstrual cycles in women on birth control.
- Regulators declined licensing because such side effects were unacceptable for a widely used cold drug.