The pharmaceutical company Glenmark, based in Mumbai, India, associated with the Canadian laboratory SaNOtize, has received authorization to manufacture and market its own nasal spray against Covid-19.
FabiSpray is a nitric oxide product, designed to kill the Covid-19 virus in the upper respiratory tract. When sprayed on the nasal walls, this spray acts as a physical and chemical barrier against the virus, preventing it from spreading to the lungs, the firm explains in a press release.
Clinical trials of this antiviral treatment have been conducted in India. “The results of this Phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial are encouraging. Demonstration of viral load reduction has a significant positive impact from a patient perspective,” said Dr Monika Tandon, Head of Glenmark.
According to the trial results, in the first 24 hours after spraying, the spray reduced the average viral load by about 94% in 24 hours and by 99% in 48 hours. The product would also be effective against the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants of the coronavirus.
Importance of viral load reduction
Reducing the viral load in the nasopharyngeal compartment can indeed reduce the risk of progression to a severe form of the disease. “The viral load is certainly not the only determinant of the evolution of the disease towards a severe form and death, but it plays an important role”, indicated in particular Inserm in a press release dated February 4, 2021. researchers have shown in particular that “a reduction in the duration of viral carriage thanks to the administration of treatment upon admission to hospital could significantly improve the prognosis of patients, in particular the elderly”, and l ‘Inserm had therefore underlined the importance of taking an interest in treatments that reduce the viral load in order to treat the disease.
If the clinical trials conducted by Glenmark do not mention the effect of its product to reduce the serious forms of Covid-19 or reduce the number of deaths, the pharmaceutical company indicates: “Nitric oxide nasal spray reduces the load viral and accelerates RT-PCR test negativity when used early in infection, leading to cure. More importantly, viral load reduction with spray has the potential to reduce the chain of transmission.”
India has recorded more than 500,000 Covid-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to government data. A balance sheet that many experts consider below reality. With 41.9 million contaminations in total, the country ranks second among the most contaminated in the world, behind the United States, and third in terms of deaths, behind Brazil and the United States.
