New research published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology suggests that a drug originally developed for cancer, called DMXAA, combats the flu virus by triggering the body to produce its own interferon Ever get a flu shot and still get the flu? If so, there's new hope for flu-free winters in the years to come thanks to a new discovery by researchers who found that a drug called DMXAA, originally developed as anti-tumor agent, enhances the ability of flu vaccines to ward off this deadly virus.