The spray has been shown to be an extremely effective treatment for COVID-19 caused by the Delta variant in mice. The association is a collaboration between UBC, Université de Sherbrooke and Cornell University, and has been effective against all variants of COVID-19 to date, the researchers said, and could be a first step in developing a human spray. “Once approved, this compound could be used in combination with already available drugs that inhibit virus replication, to provide a stronger defense against the variants of concern COVID-19,” said Dr. François Jean, Associate Professor, Department microbiology and immunology, reports a UBC report. He added that Canada could see another wave of the Omicron variant spreading to Europe and China and that nasal spray could create stronger immunity. The story goes on under the ad 4:42 Experts warn against letting COVID-19 be kept down Experts warn about letting COVID-19 go unprotected – March 18, 2022 A compound in the spray, called N-0385, helps prevent COVID-19 by blocking the virus’s ability to infect a cell, according to Jean. UBC has tested four variants, including Delta, and found that the spray prevents infections without toxicity. Trending Stories
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Researchers at Cornell University show that mice infected with COVID-19 and treated with the spray four times a day all survived the infection, while only 20 percent of the untreated mice did so. The studies also found that compound N-0385 was also shown to help prevent the effectiveness of the Delta variant given 12 hours after infection in mice, compared with untreated mice.
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A nasal spray mechanism has been found to be the most effective way to administer N-0385, Jean said, as the virus tends to enter through the nasal passages. The compound could also be used as a treatment for other viruses, such as influenza A, H1N1 and influenza C, making the spray useful when a patient is unsure of the virus they have contracted, he added. The story goes on under the ad “Even if you do not know what you are infected with during the flu season, you could possibly be prescribed a nasal spray to treat coronaviruses and the flu,” said Jean. The spray would be more effective in combination with other drugs, Jean explained, as N-0385 targets block the entry point of the virus, minimizing the work that other drugs do to treat the virus. The three universities are currently working with a private company, Ebiva, to secure funding for clinical trials. © 2022 Global News, part of Corus Entertainment Inc.
