Runny noses, painful headaches, heavy coughs and chest pains are some students' worst nightmares during winter. However, a new drug is said to help sufferers of such symptoms.

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, more than 1 billion Americans typically come down with cold symptoms during the winter.

Researchers at ViroPharma last week announced the results of a study involving a new drug Picovir that relieves these symptoms.

Picovir is a first-of-kind antiviral drug candidate shown in studies to treat viral respiratory infections (VRI), often referred to as the common cold, according to a ViroPharma press release.

"Picovir is an exceptional product candidate," said Michel de Rosen, ViroPharma's president and chief executive officer, in a press release.

"Achieving statistically significant results in these two pivotal trials is the most important milestone that ViroPharma has accomplished to date."

Picovir differs from other cold remedies in that it contains Pleconaril, a small molecule virus inhibitor discovered by ViroPharma's scientists.

It works by specifically inhibiting the protective shell of the virus, which is essential for virus infectivity and transmission.

It then disrupts the infection cycle and prevents the virus from replicating.

Results of the studies with Picovir found that patients with VRI treated with drug experienced a significant decrease in cold duration and decreased severity of muscle pains and weakness, nasal congestion, sore throat and other symptoms associated with VRI.

"These are the first pivotal studies in which patients receiving a drug that is targeted at the virus that causes the majority of common colds experienced a reduction in the severity and duration of their illness," Mark McKinlay, a company co-founders and one of the discovers of pleconaril, said about the drug.

According to ViroPharma studies, pleconaril effectively inhibits 96 percent of the rhinoviruses known to cause the common cold.

If some of the symptoms associated with the viral infection aren't treated, they can progress and cause respiratory distress, croup, bronchitis and pneumonia.

Students such as Michael Viscusi (senior-recreation and park management) said they have been plagued with cold symptoms all season.

"On such a large campus with people living in close quarters, it's easy to get sick. I've had this cold that gave me a horrible headache, congestion and sore throat," he said. "I was so tired out that I missed an entire week at school."

Doug Malerba (senior-history) said he is currently suffering a cold and many of the medicines available aren't effective in relieving his sickness.

"Many of the medicines don't provide any relief except for the nasal sprays," Malerba said. "If the new medicine worked, it would be great."

The company is planning to apply for marketing approval this summer.

The drug may be available through prescription sometime next year, pending its approval.

ViroPharma is also conducting additional studies with pleconaril in other patient populations including those patients who have serious degenerative and life-threatening illnesses such as sepsis, a type of bacterial infection.