Study Confirms Viraleze Antiviral Nasal Spray Provides Protection Against SARS-CoV-2 in Challenge Model
PR91262
MELBOURNE, Australia, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --
Melbourne biotech company Starpharma has announced the publication of new data
demonstrating the capability of its Viraleze antiviral nasal spray to protect
against SARS-CoV-2 in an animal challenge model of SARS-CoV-2 infection[1].
Viraleze administered nasally reduced viral load by more than 99.9% in the
lungs and trachea of animals challenged with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, compared to
saline-control.
The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Viruses, in a special
issue titled Medical Interventions for Treatment and Prevention of SARS-CoV-2
Infections (https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/8/1656), provides further
validation for Viraleze against SARS-CoV-2.
The antiviral agent in Viraleze, SPL7013, has previously been shown in vitro to
have potent antiviral and virucidal activity in multiple variants of
SARS-CoV-2, including inactivation of >99.9% of the Delta variant
(https://starpharma.com/news/).
Viraleze was developed for application in the nasal cavity to help reduce
exposure to respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. The product is
registered for sale in Europe and India, and available online in certain
markets via www.viraleze.co.
Global data indicates that vaccines against COVID-19 are highly effective in
preventing hospitalisation and death, but that vaccinated individuals can still
become infected and shed virus. Complementary interventions, like Viraleze,
could potentially be used to reduce viral load at the primary site of initial
infection and could also be helpful to reduce shedding of infectious virus.
The latest study, conducted at The Scripps Research Institute, used a humanised
SARS-CoV-2 mouse model recommended by the WHO. The results show that Viraleze
administered nasally significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the
respiratory tract, in the blood and in other organs in Viraleze treated
animals.
The impressive protective effects of Viraleze in this SARS-CoV-2 animal model
are consistent with the previously reported virucidal activity of SPL7013[2],
demonstrating potent antiviral activity in multiple respiratory viruses and
multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2.
Starpharma CEO, Dr Jackie Fairley, said: "In this study Viraleze was highly
protective against SARS-CoV-2 challenge in an established SARS-CoV-2 animal
model of coronavirus infection. These results provide compelling data
supporting the utility of a broad-spectrum nasal spray, like Viraleze, to
potentially reduce exposure to SARS-CoV-2 virus in respiratory tract and other
organs. One of the potential advantages of Viraleze is its ability to
significantly reduce viral load in the respiratory tract, which could lower
both the transmissibility of the virus to others and severity of disease."
[1] The study used the K18-hACE2 mouse model, an in vivo humanised mouse model
that expresses the human angiotensin converting enzyme (hACE2) receptor, the
receptor used by SARS-CoV-2 to infect cells in the human nasal cavity and
respiratory tract.
[2] Paull, J.R.A. et al. Virucidal and antiviral activity of astodrimer sodium
against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro (2021). Antiviral Research.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2021.105089
Source: Starpharma
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