PR90878

MELBOURNE, Australia, July 27, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

-New antiviral testing demonstrates SPL7013, the antiviral agent in

VIRALEZE(TM) nasal spray, has potent virucidal activity against the globally

significant Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, reducing infectivity of the virus by

>99.99% after 30 seconds of exposure

-SPL7013, the antiviral agent in VIRALEZE(TM), has now been shown in laboratory

studies to be virucidal against all four coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Variants of

Concern: Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta

-These latest data further illustrate the broad-spectrum antiviral activity of

SPL7013, which has been demonstrated against multiple respiratory viruses,

including influenza and RSV, as well as its consistent and potent activity

against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants

-VIRALEZE(TM) antiviral nasal spray is registered for sale in Europe and India,

and available in certain markets online.

Starpharma today announced new data demonstrating that SPL7013, the antiviral

agent in VIRALEZE(TM) nasal spray, is active against the highly transmissible

Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, achieving more than 99.99% reduction of infectious

virus in laboratory-based virucidal assays.

The antiviral testing of SPL7013 was conducted in the laboratory of virologist,

Professor Philippe Gallay, at The Scripps Research Institute in the US, where

previous studies have also demonstrated potent antiviral and virucidal activity

of SPL7013 against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2, including the globally

important Alpha, Beta and Gamma 'Variants of Concern'.

Percent reductions of infectious virus achieved with 10 mg/mL SPL7013 (the

concentration in VIRALEZE(TM) are shown in the table below.

Virus:             Percent Reduction of Infectious Virus vs Virus Control*

SPL7013+

Incubation

Time               US             Alpha        Beta         Gamma       Delta           Kappa

30 seconds     >99.9%     >99.9%      >99%       >99%          >99.99%      >99.9%

1 minute         >99.9%     >99.9%      >99%       >99%          >99.99%      >99.9%

5 minutes       >99.9%     >99.99%    >99.9%     >99.9%       >99.99%      >99.9%

15 minutes     >99.99%   >99.99%    >99.99%   >99.99%     >99.999%    >99.99%

30 minutes     >99.99%   >99.99%    >99.99%   >99.99%     >99.999%    >99.99%

+ 10 mg/mL SPL7013; * virus without exposure to SPL7013

In commenting on the significance of these new findings, internationally

recognised virologist, Professor Philippe Gallay from the Scripps Research

Institute, said:

"SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to emerge and dominate new infections worldwide.

These variants have changes in several viral proteins, including in the spike

protein that is essential for the virus to infect its host cell.

"It is remarkable that SPL7013 has demonstrated potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity

against the broad-spectrum of Variants of Concern, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and now

importantly Delta, and Variant of Interest, Kappa, in vitro. SPL7013 acts as a

barrier to viral infection and its broad-spectrum activity demonstrates its

resilience against a rapidly changing target.

The Delta variant has been reported to be about 60% more transmissible than the

already highly infectious Alpha variant[1], and is now the most common variant

in India and the UK, where it accounts for more than 90% of new cases.[2]

Dr Jackie Fairley, CEO of Starpharma, commented: "We are very pleased to

confirm the rapid virucidal activity of SPL7013, with greater than 99.99%

reduction of infectious virus in just 30 seconds against the Delta variant."

[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01696-3

[2] https://covariants.org/variants/21A.Delta

SOURCE  Starpharma