An old osteoporosis drug, Aredia, may be effective in killing a range of influenza viruses that include the swine and bird flu. In the June 2011 issue of the Journal of Experimental Medicine, researchers showed that Aredia stimulated gamma-delta T-cells to reproduce and also kill influenza viruses. Rather than killling the virus directly, it does so through the body's ability to produce cells that kill the virus. This might protect against the novel ability of the flu viruses to mutate as a defense against antibodies that are specific to their DNA structure. Experiments with mice showed that Aredia was a very powerful protective strategy against the swine flu and two different bird flu viruses. It also works quite differently than drugs such as Tamiflu, that work directly against the virus.
