One hundred percent protection from covid
Nasal spray showed 100% protection against COVID-19 in animals
Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+
The use of the spray gives an immediate protective effect and lasts at least a day, the authors said. It can be stored without cooling and it is cheap to produce. It is equally important that the new drug effectively protects against mutated variants of SARS-CoV-2, which have become dominant in many regions of the world, and already developed vaccines against them show reduced effectiveness. The scientists who developed the spray believe that its mass use will be able to stop the pandemic.
A new drug for the prevention and protection against COVID-19 has been developed by scientists from Columbia University. The compound contained in the nasal spray, a lipopeptide, is designed to prevent the penetration of SARS–CoV–2 into host cells. The results of a new preclinical study are published in the journal Science (de Vries et al., Intranasal fusion inhibitory lipopeptide prevents direct-contact SARS-CoV-2 transmission in ferrets).
Antiviral lipopeptide is inexpensive and has a long shelf life without refrigeration. These features significantly distinguish the drug from other experimental drugs currently being developed, and make it an ideal candidate to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the world, according to the findings of the study.
The conclusions are based on the results of testing the drug on ferrets, whose lungs are very similar to human ones. In addition, these animals are very susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and easily transmit it from individual to individual.
One group of ferrets was injected daily with medicine through the nose and placed in cages with an infected individual. This is how scientists simulated close contact. The months of the pandemic have shown that well-feeling people are increasingly violating social distancing and thus, in the case of asymptomatic carrier, can increase the risks of others getting sick with COVID-19.
Observations showed that none of the animals became infected after direct contact with an infected ferret. In addition, their viral load was zero. In the control group, all the animals became seriously ill.
Spray will protect against SARS-CoV-2 mutations
Currently, scientists are concerned that existing and developing vaccines will not be able to effectively protect against mutated variants of SARS-CoV-2. Earlier experiments have already proved this. Lipopeptide spray has advantages for solving this problem as well.
When scientists tested the drug on several variants of SARS-CoV-2, including the widespread B.1.1.7 and B.1.351, it turned out that the compound prevented the fusion of the virus's spike protein with the cell membrane.
How he does it, you can see in the video on YouTube – VM.
The spray is planned to be used for the prevention and protection against COVID-19 in any situation – at home, in schools and universities, public places and so on.
Protection will be immediate and will last at least 24 hours after administration, the scientists said.
"Even in ideal conditions, when most of the population is vaccinated and distancing measures are strictly observed, antiviral spray will be an important addition to protect people and control the transmission of the virus," commented the drug developers Matteo Porotto and En Mascona.
The spray will bring the greatest benefit to people with weak immunity and those who for some reason cannot receive the vaccine, they added. The team is currently planning to conduct clinical trials. The estimated deadlines for the end of the tests have not yet been announced.
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