A year ago, researchers from the University of Birmingham have announced its anti-viral drug against COVID-19 that is in the form of a nasal spray. This year, they have signed a licensing agreement with Birmingham Biotech Ltd. to commercialize this anti-viral drug in Birmingham as a consumer health product.
Anti-COVID-19 nasal spray “ready for use in humans” (Photo: University of Birmingham)
Birmingham’s Anti-Viral COVID-19 Nasal Spray
In their study published last year in the preprint server bioXriv, researchers found that the nasal spray formulation is effective against infection in cell cultures challenged by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
According to their press release in 2020, the nasal spray formulation consists of an anti-viral agent, λcarrageenan, and a gellan polysaccharide, that were manufactured to pharmaceutical grade.
Moreover, the team said that the anti-viral nasal spray should catch and coat the virus inside the nose in a real-world scenario to prevent its uptake by the body and avoid getting sick. It can be eliminated via nose-blowing or swallowing.
But in case that virus particles are transmitted to other people, researchers said that the anti-viral drug has already reduced the risk of transmitting active viruses that cause the infection.
Anti-Viral COVID-19 Nasal Spray to Be Commercialized in Birmingham
European Pharmaceutical Review recently reported that researchers from the University of Birmingham have signed a licensing agreement with Birmingham Biotech to commercialize their anti-viral nasal spray against COVID-19.
The license gives the biotech company exclusive rights to market and sell the anti-viral drug worldwide, except for India. It is estimated that the anti-viral drug will be available in the US and the UK early next year.
They two also planned to continue their partnership and established a joint venture to commercialize new products developed by the university in the future.
