US EditionChocolate Compound Drug Reportedly Beats Tamiflu
HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM, ISRAEL, AUG 6 – The new Theobromine-Arainosine drug combo targets a viral ion channel and neutralizes drug-resistant flu strains, offering a potential alternative to Tamiflu, researchers said.
- Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem published on August 4, 2025, a drug combo including a chocolate compound that outperforms Tamiflu against flu strains.
- The team developed this treatment due to the increasing ineffectiveness of Tamiflu as influenza viruses mutate and resist existing drugs.
- Theobromine and Arainosine block the M2 ion channel, a viral feature vital for replication, and the combo reduced viral RNA in lungs by over 75% in tests.
- The treatment reduced viral RNA levels by 15,717-fold, significantly outperforming Tamiflu’s 3,077-fold reduction, and Prof. Isaiah Arkin emphasized that this represents more than simply an improved flu medication.
- ViroBlock, a Hebrew University startup, is advancing this therapy toward human trials, indicating potential for broader antiviral applications beyond influenza.
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New drug combo outperforms Tamiflu in fighting flu
A surprising new drug combo—including a compound found in chocolate—has outperformed Tamiflu in fighting the flu, according to a study published in PNAS. The mix of Theobromine and Arainosine proved far more effective against a range of flu strains, including drug-resistant versions of bird and swine flu. By targeting a key viral weakness, this breakthrough could lead to stronger, longer-lasting treatments—not just for the flu,…
·Washington, United States
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Health Rounds: Flu drug with compound found in chocolate tops Tamiflu in early study
An experimental flu-fighting drug combination that includes a compound found in chocolate is more effective than the current most commonly used influenza treatment, researchers reported in PNAS.
·United Kingdom
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