A spray treatment seems to show promise in clearing the coronaviruses that cause covid-19 from our noses. In a recent Phase III trial in India, the spray was found to significantly reduce people's viral load within days and at a faster rate than placebos. The people who were treated had a positive test for the virus on a test.
The Canadian company SaNOtize is the main developer of the potential treatment. It contains a molecule with several important roles in the human body that is also used as medication to help widen the airways and blood vessels in people with certain conditions. There is hope that nitric oxide can be used as a frontline covid-19 treatment for people who may have been exposed to the coronaviruses. If it's true, a spray in the nose may be the best way to deliver it.
The details of the trial were published in The Lancet Regional Health-Southeast Asia. More than 300 people were confirmed to have covid-19 and mild symptoms, but they were notvaccinated. Two groups used a spray six times a day for seven days, but only one group was treated with the real spray.
Those who took nitric oxide appeared to clear the virus from their nose earlier than the placebo group, with their overall viral load reduced by 99% within 48 hours. The median time for those in the treatment group to be negative for the virus was three days, compared to seven days in the placebo group. The treatment was well-tolerated and only a few people reported adverse effects. The trial took place during the time when the Delta and Omicron variant were popular.
According to a statement released by the company and Glenmark, the Phase 3 study results support the safety and efficacy of the nitric oxide spray.
The Fabispray was approved for use in India under an expedited approval process. It has been registered as a medical device in the European Union and is being sold in parts of Asia and Israel. There doesn't seem to be any recent updates on its potential development and availability in North America.
The results of the latest trial seem to be the largest yet, but there are still some unanswered questions. The results don't show for certain if nitric oxide can reduce the severity of symptoms, the risk of further transmission to others, or the odds of worsening illness, but they do show for certain if it can. The spray group reported feeling better by day eight compared to the placebo group.
SaNOtize hopes that the spray won't just be useful against covid-19 but also other respiratory infections, such as flu.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
