Starpharma’s Viraleze protects against Covid infection in trials

Starpharma’s Viraleze antiviral nasal spray has passed another trial confirming its effectiveness – this time showing it provides protection against infection with the highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of the virus which causes Covid-19.

One hundred per cent of animals treated with Viraleze in a viral challenge test by Scripps Research had no detectable virus in the lung, trachea or nasal cavity at up to four days after the trial.

Viraleze was effective if administered before and after exposure to the virus. Further animals treated with the nasal spray only after exposure to the virus exhibited greater than 99.999 percent reduction in viral load at day seven.

Starpharma CEO Dr Jackie Fairley said: “Countries around the world are experiencing significant strain in their healthcare systems as a result of Omicron outbreaks.

“Viraleze represents an additional tool for use alongside vaccinations in these challenging timers.”

Viraleze is now registered in more than 30 countries, but has yet to be approved for Covid-19 in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

In March the Viraleze nasal spray was shown in a new study to reduce the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by greater than 99.5 per cent.

The study by the Scripps Research Institute found: “(It) has shown potent antiviral activity and was viricidal against the Omicron variant.”

Picture: Starpharma CEO Dr Jackie Fairley

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