A ‘magic bullet’ designed by pharmaceutical scientists could eradicate the side effects of a drug used to treat a rare genetic disease. Researchers have chemically modified a drug used to treat cystinosis — a disease which occurs when the body’s mechanism to remove excess cystine (an amino acid) breaks down, leading to kidney problems and eventually affecting other organs — to remove unpleasant side effects such as nausea, vomiting, severe halitosis, body odor and a noxious taste.