China Begins Human Trial for First COVID-19 Nasal Spray Vaccine

China has approved a nasal spray COVID-19 vaccine candidate for clinical trial in humans that could be more effective in stopping the spread of the coronavirus through the respiratory tracts and serve as an alternative to painful injections.

The nasal spray vaccine candidate against COVID-19 has been developed by the State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases of the University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) in partnership with the Xiamen University (Fujian, China) and Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co. (Beijing, China).


The nasal spray vaccine candidate against COVID-19 is based on the established flu-based DelNS1 live attenuated influenza virus (LAIV) platform with the deletion of the key virulent element and immune antagonist, NS1, from the viral genome and is potentially more immunogenic than wild type influenza virus. The vaccine strategy has been selected as one of the five vaccine technologies by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China for further evaluation.

The flu-based vaccine can be combined with any seasonal flu vaccine strains, and can be produced in chicken embryonated eggs and MDCK cells which are proven production systems for influenza vaccines. Its features are highly safe and it is used as nasal spray to induce specific immunity in the airway of humans. The flu-based COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for clinical trial in humans by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), making it the first nasal spray COVID-19 vaccine to be tested in humans.

Related Links:
University of Hong Kong
Xiamen University
Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co.