Researchers of the University of Helsinki, in Finland, they developed a spray nasal which can provide protection against covid-19 for at least eight hours.
This tool is effective immediately after its management, but the specialists clarify that it is a preventive treatment and not a vaccine.
How does the anti-covid spray work?
The TriSb92 molecule, developed by the team, has the ability to inactivate Spike protein of coronavirus, which it uses to invade cells, and offers effective short-term protection.
According to a recently published study, laboratory tests and animals showed that the molecule protects against infections for “at least eight hours, even in cases of high risk of exposure” and is effective immediately after its administration.
“TriSb92 potently neutralizes the SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of interest, including delta and omicron. Intranasal administration of a modest dose of TriSb92 (5 or 50 micrograms) eight hours prior to SARS-CoV-2 challenge efficiently protected 1351 mice from infection. infection”, the study authors wrote.
According to scientists, the ability to effectively inhibit all current variants This is because the molecule targets a site on the Spike protein, common to all variants. This feature is also believed to indicate that future strains of SARS-CoV-2 or new coronaviruses they may be susceptible to it.
The results are yet to be peer-reviewed and more research is needed before the product can be used in humans.
It would work as a complement to the vaccine
Nasal spray treatment is not a vaccine against covid-19, but a complement to it.
“These types of molecules that prevent infections, or antiviral drugs, they cannot replace vaccines in protecting the population against coronavirus disease,” Professor Kalle Saksela, who is involved in this project, said in a statement. study and other research that seeks to develop an immunizing spray against the disease.
Preventive treatment may be helpful for people whose protection of vaccines is insufficient. Depending on the epidemic situation, it can also benefit fully vaccinated people when given before any high-risk situation.
In an interview with Gizmodo, Saksela said that the technology to make the spray is “cheap and highly manufacturable,” but he doesn’t know how long it might take for the product to reach the markets. clinical trials and to the market.
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