I heard that there were new prescription drugs available for treating colds?

Testing is being done on two new antiviral drugs Pleconaril (Privcor) and AG7088. Pleconaril is an oral medication and AG7088 is a nasal spray. Both are considered experimental drugs and are still under study. Neither drug has been approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA needs to make sure that these drugs are effective and safe before they can be sold. From a practical standpoint, the cost of treatment is expected to range from $50 to $100 per cold, at least initially. The best approach to treatment is still getting plenty of rest, drinking lots of fluids and taking an over-the-counter medication to relieve symptoms if you choose to do so.

Gail Carlson, MPH Ph.D., Continuing Medical Education, School of Medicine, 
University of Missouri-Columbia