(WSB Radio) University of Georgia Researchers are racing to develop a new drug that would treat all influenza including Avian flu. Influenza researcher Ralph Tripp tells WSB the anti viral drug targets and silences the flu genes that cause the flu virus to replicate in the body.

"It works on the genetic level not on the physiological level", he says.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports the researchers have a partnership with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Incorporated of Cambridge, Massachusetts and expect to begin a Phase 1 clinical trial in 2006.

There are growing concerns of a flu pandemic. Experts say one typically occurs several times each century, and they worry that one could be right around the corner.

The U.S. Senate recently approved spending $3.9 billion on anti-viral medicines and other flu-related measures, while President Bush has said he is considering using military troops to impose a quarantine if an avian flu outbreak occurs.

Tripp says it's probably impossible to develop a vaccine for the H5N1 strain of avian influenza in time to control a worldwide epidemic. He says this new drug may be our best bet.

"If we come up with a drug candidate that's really effective it'll be pushed through really rapidly", says Tripp. He says within six months he believes they could have a drug that is ready to go.