Report: UK university scientists finalize nasal spray that blocks out Covid-19
There are reports that a nasal spray that can prevent a coronavirus infection for up to two days is being prepped for mass production by the scientists at the University of Birmingham with the hope of having them available over-the-counter in pharmacies in a few months.
The nasal spray, which has not yet been named, is made from ingredients that are already approved for medical use, meaning it is safe for use by humans and does not require further approval.
The formula helps prevent infection by blocking the virus in the nose and encapsulating it in a coating that it cannot escape from. As a result, it would be safe for a person to breathe out even if inhaled by another person as the virus would be safe and harmless.
The doctor working on the spray said: “Based on the product, it will be much quicker to get to the user than a novel drug. I am confident that the formulation can make an impact. Our goal is to make an impact as soon as possible, we would really like to see this happen by summer,”.
In November last year, the researchers working on the spray since April 2020 announced that laboratory experiments showed the spray prevented a coronavirus infection from spreading for up to 48 hours.
The spray is a mixture of an antiviral agent called carrageenan, commonly used in foods as a thickening agent, and a solution called gellan – a gelling agent selected for its ability to stick to cells inside the nose.
