Anti-biotics are broad attack agents, why can’t we do the same with viruses? My recent viral conjunctivitis had no cure but time, yet influenza has Tamflu? What’s the key difference between the two that limits our viral solutions?

Question

Anti-biotics are broad attack agents, why can’t we do the same with viruses? My recent viral conjunctivitis had no cure but time, yet influenza has Tamflu? What’s the key difference between the two that limits our viral solutions?

In: Biology

Answer 1

As mentioned in other comments, viruses change mutate often and your last chemical that worked will now suddenly not work anymore.

The additional point that I want to add is that your chemical drug needs to not just make the virus break apart, but it also needs to leave everything else in entire human body NOT break apart

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