Schizophrenia drug can prevent SARS

• A DRUG used to treat schizophrenia has been shown to prevent and treat Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), according to Chinese and European experts at a conference in China.
• The cinanserin treatment was found to inhibit the coronavirus that causes the deadly flu-like SARS, which first emerged in the country's south in late 2002.
• The finding was announced by experts attending a meeting of the Sino-European Project on SARS Diagnostics and Antivirals in the city of Hangzhou.
• The report said cinanserin was among 15 drugs that appeared effective in preventing SARS but that the other 14 had yet to undergo sufficient testing.
• Peter Kristensen, from Denmark's University of Aarhus, said: "Cinanserin could be directly prescribed to prevent the SARS disease or treat SARS patients if the epidemic mounts a comeback."
• The disease killed 349 in China and thousands became ill worldwide before the outbreak subsided in July 2003.
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