Flu May Be on Its Last Legs: Scientists Are Developing Universal Treatment for the Disease

Written by Ruth Rodrigues

Published on 12/09/2025 at 14:50

Cientistas testam novo tratamento universal para gripe que resiste a mutações. Saiba como funciona, os resultados e prazos para testes em humanos.

Be the first to react!

Scientists Test New Universal Treatment for Influenza That Resists Mutations. Learn How It Works, the Results, and Timelines for Human Testing.

Scientists are developing a universal treatment for influenza, effective against various strains, even after viral mutations. The discovery was made at The Jackson Laboratory, after testing in mice in a lab in the U.S.

The experiment involved antibodies that provided long-lasting protection, even when used days after infection.

The goal of the study is to launch a broader alternative than current treatments, which lose effectiveness when the virus undergoes genetic changes.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Efficacy and Resistance Against Mutations

The researchers applied the treatment using monoclonal antibodies adapted to target the influenza virus.

This treatment resisted viral mutations even after continuous exposure for more than a month.

Tests in animal models demonstrated that the therapy provided protection against nearly all evaluated strains, including highly pathogenic ones like the H7N9 avian influenza.

How the Experiment Was Conducted

Mice received injections with the antibodies before or after infection with the virus.
The treatment resulted in survival rates of up to 88%. Even when administered five days after infection, there was a positive outcome.
The level of virus in the lungs decreased, and symptoms were less severe, demonstrating that the treatment could serve both for prevention and for ongoing cases.

Limitations and Next Steps

Despite the promising results of the treatment, there are challenges to overcome.

So far, testing has only been conducted in mice, and not in humans.

The next step announced by the scientists is to conduct clinical trials that prove the safety and efficacy of the therapy in people.

These studies are essential before any commercial or widespread application.

Potential Impact of the Universal Treatment Against Influenza

If approved for human use, this universal treatment could change the way we deal with seasonal influenza outbreaks.

It could reduce deaths and severe cases, alleviate pressure on healthcare systems, and provide more stable protection, even when the virus changes.

Additionally, this approach could reduce the need for annual updates of vaccines for each new strain—although it would not completely replace traditional immunization.

The combination of the treatment with vaccines would still be important.

Reactions from Experts

Silke Paust, an immunologist at JAX and one of the authors of the study, highlights:

“This is the first time we have seen such broad and lasting protection against influenza in a living system. Even when we applied the therapy days after infection, most treated mice survived.”

This quote reinforces the relevance of the treatment for real cases, as people generally seek medical help after the onset of symptoms.

The new universal treatment for influenza, developed by scientists, demonstrates great potential to tackle various strains of the virus, even the most mutated ones. However, there is still a way to go until application in humans.

Caution, clinical trials, and further studies are necessary.

In the meantime, traditional measures such as annual vaccination, hygiene when coughing or sneezing, and care in ventilated environments remain crucial to prevent influenza.

Flu May Be on Its Last Legs: Scientists Are Developing Universal Treatment for the Disease

Scientists Test New Universal Treatment for Influenza That Resists Mutations. Learn How It Works, the Results, and Timelines for Human Testing.

Efficacy and Resistance Against Mutations

How the Experiment Was Conducted

Limitations and Next Steps

Potential Impact of the Universal Treatment Against Influenza

Reactions from Experts

While an average building in London or New York takes three years to be completed, in China a 26-story tower went up in five days with about 100 workers, and the global modular construction market already moves US$ 95 billion per year.

Australia installs giant concrete structures on the seabed 800 meters from the shore to create an ocean intake for desalination that will draw in saltwater and produce 30 million liters of drinking water per day.

While a traditional school may take several days just to raise walls, in Malawi a 3D-printed school had its structure ready in 18 hours, welcomed children in June, and showed a new solution to the lack of classrooms.

Goodbye traditional washing machine: Panasonic surprises housewives with the NA-G5 featuring four drums, a 13 kg washer and dryer, a 12 kg dryer, independent mini washers, a heat pump, and a 4-in-1 system awarded at the German Design Award.

Material once seen as a poor man’s choice returns as a climate bet, with red clay replacing part of the gray concrete in modern buildings, hospitals, houses, and a cultural center that transforms tradition into a solution against urban heat.

American company deploys humanoid robots to work live for 8 hours and surprises by showing machines handling packages at an almost human pace while accelerating production on a global industrial scale

Scientists look at the Pacific Ocean and find a signal that worries meteorologists: heat accumulated below the surface may anticipate a strong El Niño, capable of altering rainfall, droughts, and temperatures in various regions of the planet.

How much does it cost to plaster a 102 m² house: project shows an expense of R$ 40.4 thousand with labor, materials, and extras

Germany prepares three giants of 34,000 tons in the North Sea to convert offshore wind energy into high-voltage electricity, in a 6 GW project that will feature converter platforms, HVDC connection, and works scheduled until 2031.

Taller than the Eiffel Tower when in operation, the ship Voltaire lifts giant turbines in the North Sea using a 3,200-ton crane to transform Dogger Bank into the largest offshore wind farm in the world.

In southern Iraq, a structure made solely from marsh plants creates arched halls, dispensing with wood and steel, and showcases an ancient engineering that still challenges modern architecture.

Flu May Be on Its Last Legs: Scientists Are Developing Universal Treatment for the Disease

Scientists Test New Universal Treatment for Influenza That Resists Mutations. Learn How It Works, the Results, and Timelines for Human Testing.

Efficacy and Resistance Against Mutations

How the Experiment Was Conducted

Limitations and Next Steps

Potential Impact of the Universal Treatment Against Influenza

Reactions from Experts

While an average building in London or New York takes three years to be completed, in China a 26-story tower went up in five days with about 100 workers, and the global modular construction market already moves US$ 95 billion per year.

Australia installs giant concrete structures on the seabed 800 meters from the shore to create an ocean intake for desalination that will draw in saltwater and produce 30 million liters of drinking water per day.

While a traditional school may take several days just to raise walls, in Malawi a 3D-printed school had its structure ready in 18 hours, welcomed children in June, and showed a new solution to the lack of classrooms.

Goodbye traditional washing machine: Panasonic surprises housewives with the NA-G5 featuring four drums, a 13 kg washer and dryer, a 12 kg dryer, independent mini washers, a heat pump, and a 4-in-1 system awarded at the German Design Award.

Material once seen as a poor man’s choice returns as a climate bet, with red clay replacing part of the gray concrete in modern buildings, hospitals, houses, and a cultural center that transforms tradition into a solution against urban heat.

American company deploys humanoid robots to work live for 8 hours and surprises by showing machines handling packages at an almost human pace while accelerating production on a global industrial scale

Scientists look at the Pacific Ocean and find a signal that worries meteorologists: heat accumulated below the surface may anticipate a strong El Niño, capable of altering rainfall, droughts, and temperatures in various regions of the planet.

Taller than the Eiffel Tower when in operation, the ship Voltaire lifts giant turbines in the North Sea using a 3,200-ton crane to transform Dogger Bank into the largest offshore wind farm in the world.

Gas plants advance in the United States, but comparison per MWh shows why solar, wind, and batteries can change the technology race.

RedMagic 11S Pro arrives on the global market to compete with Asus ROG Phone and Lenovo Legion with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Steam, 144 Hz AMOLED display, and 24,000 RPM turbo fan.

Scientists look at the Pacific Ocean and find a signal that worries meteorologists: heat accumulated below the surface may anticipate a strong El Niño, capable of altering rainfall, droughts, and temperatures in various regions of the planet.

How much does it cost to plaster a 102 m² house: project shows an expense of R$ 40.4 thousand with labor, materials, and extras

Germany prepares three giants of 34,000 tons in the North Sea to convert offshore wind energy into high-voltage electricity, in a 6 GW project that will feature converter platforms, HVDC connection, and works scheduled until 2031.

Taller than the Eiffel Tower when in operation, the ship Voltaire lifts giant turbines in the North Sea using a 3,200-ton crane to transform Dogger Bank into the largest offshore wind farm in the world.

In southern Iraq, a structure made solely from marsh plants creates arched halls, dispensing with wood and steel, and showcases an ancient engineering that still challenges modern architecture.