A respiratory expert working on a preventative nasal spray aimed at limiting transmission of COVID-19, says he is excited that human trials are now underway.
University of Newcastle Associate Professor Nathan Bartlett is working with the drug development company ENA Respiratory, and has played a key role in the research leading up to the human trials.
Associate Professor Bartlett said it worked by activating an immune response in the upper respiratory tract.
He said the drug, INNA-051, was shown to be effective both before and after early exposure to the virus that caused COVID-19.
"It very rapidly provides protection right where you need it, so it regulates the immune protection that exists there," he said.
"So then you're far less likely to develop serious illness and transmit it to others."
Spray could plug vaccine gaps
Associate Professor Bartlett said the spray would not replace vaccines, but could provide an extra layer of protection.
"There are always going to be people who don't respond well to the vaccine, and there's the ongoing concern of new viral variants arising that aren't well protected by the vaccine," he said.
Associate Professor Bartlett had been working on the drug for the past six years to target common respiratory viruses like rhinovirus that caused the common cold but could also trigger more serious lung diseases.
“We were researching INNA-051 prior to the pandemic and discovered that it was very effective at priming the airways to more rapidly and effectively respond to a viral infection,” he said.
