A small-molecule drug can block a broad range of flu viruses in mice

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Our bodies are good at generating extremely specific antibodies, targeting a single pathogen among a dizzying mix of harmless bacteria and the proteins made by our own cells. But in some cases, like the flu virus, that specificity is limiting. Those antibodies will generally pick out a very specific strain of the flu virus, leaving us vulnerable to other strains and the new variants that evolve each season.
In recent years, however, it has become apparent that the immune system sometimes gets wildly lucky by generating a single antibody that can neutralize a huge range of viruses. These 'broadly neutralizing antibodies' provide a significant protection against viruses that the immune system normally struggles against, like HIV, Ebola, and the flu virus. Mass production of these antibodies might provide a useful therapy, and the hope is that we can incorporate what they tell us into the design of future vaccines for these pathogens.
But some clever researchers have figured out how to use a broadly neutralizing antibody as a tool to design a drug that can block the activity of a large range of flu viruses.
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