We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

HospiMedica

Download Mobile App
Recent News AI Critical Care Surgical Techniques Patient Care Health IT Point of Care Business Focus

First-in-Class Nasal Spray Could Both Treat and Prevent COVID-19

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 17 Jun 2021
A first-in-class nasal spray is being developed for the treatment as well as prevention of COVID-19 and other respiratory viral infections.

ENA Respiratory (Perth, Australia) is developing its lead clinical candidate, INNA-051, to activate innate immunity in the nose, the primary site of most respiratory virus infections, including COVID-19. The company is poised to initiate its Phase I human safety study of INNA-051 in the coming weeks.

Image: First-in-Class Nasal Spray Could Both Treat and Prevent COVID-19 (Photo courtesy of ENA Respiratory)
Image: First-in-Class Nasal Spray Could Both Treat and Prevent COVID-19 (Photo courtesy of ENA Respiratory)

Unlike other potential prophylactic approaches to COVID, INNA-051 directly stimulates the host’s innate immune defense that plays a key role in clearing viruses and other pathogens. A gold-standard animal study performed by Public Health England (PHE) demonstrated that ENA’s nasal spray reduces COVID-19 viral replication by up to 96%. If humans respond in a similar way, the spray could be used to protect people very quickly from infection and lower community transmission. Based on its mechanism of action and non-clinical studies demonstrating efficacy against multiple, non-related respiratory viruses, INNA-051 has the potential to prevent existing and emerging respiratory viral infections, such as COVID-19 and its variants.

The key features of INNA-051 intranasal administration include limited minimal or no systemic bioavailability, minimal or no systemic pro-inflammatory cytokine release, no direct type I interferon upregulation, durable immune response supporting twice-weekly administration and compatibility with vaccine and intranasal corticosteroids.

“We recognize that in addition to vaccines, the world needs safe, convenient, broad-spectrum anti-viral therapies to win the fight against COVID-19,” said Chris Smith, Ph.D., Chairman of ENA Respiratory. “INNA-051 could be incredibly helpful in protecting at-risk populations such as health workers, the elderly and immunocompromised patients against existing and emerging variants. Because INNA-051 is not virus-specific, it could also play a key role beyond fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, in combating seasonal flu or any future respiratory viral outbreaks.”


Related Links:
ENA Respiratory


Gold Member
Real-Time Diagnostics Onscreen Viewer
GEMweb Live
Gold Member
STI Test
Vivalytic Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Array
Silver Member
Wireless Mobile ECG Recorder
NR-1207-3/NR-1207-E
New
Critical Care Trolley
CCT-PX

Latest COVID-19 News

Low-Cost System Detects SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Hospital Air Using High-Tech Bubbles

World's First Inhalable COVID-19 Vaccine Approved in China

COVID-19 Vaccine Patch Fights SARS-CoV-2 Variants Better than Needles