Preliminary studies of a new drug designed to fight off a number of viral infections have proven successful, according to HealthDay.

Researchers at MIT tested the treatment in mice, in which it was effective against the common cold, flu, various stomach viruses, polio and dengue fever, reports the news source.

The drug is known as DRACO, or double-stranded RNA activated caspase oligomerizers. When a virus attacks the body, the affected cells are duplicated and produce double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), which only appears in unhealthy cells. DRACO signals the cells to use their own defense system against the dsRNA.

“Currently, there are very few antiviral treatments, and most that do exist are highly specific for individual viruses or have undesirable side effects,” Todd Rider, senior staff scientist at the MIT-affiliated Chemical, Biological and Nanoscale Technologies Group at Lincoln Laboratory, told the news source. “[DRACO] has the potential to safely treat or prevent a broad spectrum of viral infections.”

Rider, who is the lead researcher, explained that the drug would attach itself to the dsRNA and essentially make the cell kill itself. It does not become attached to healthy cells.

The scientist emphasizes that the results of the research are extremely preliminary and that many years of further research are required.

“We are hoping to license this technology to a pharmaceutical company that can carry it through larger animal trials and human clinical trials. Realistically, it will probably be at least a decade before you can buy DRACO at the drug store,” Rider told the news provider.