A nasal spray that can prevent COVID-19 for up to two days has been developed by researchers in the UK – and may be available over the counter until the summer, according to a report.
The spray – developed by scientists at the University of Birmingham – prevents infection by catching the bug in the nose and covering it in a layer from which it cannot escape, The Telegraph reported.
As a result, it would be safe for someone to expire next to another person, as the virus would be inactive and harmless, the outlet said.
Dr. Richard Moakes, the study’s lead researcher, said he was confident the spray would be able to put an end to social distancing restrictions and “make schools work again.”
“We think it will help in schools, because one of the good things about formulating nasal spray is that it should not be reformulated for children,” Moakes told The Telegraph.
“If it could make it easier for students to return to school and restore education, then it would be great.”
The spray includes an antiviral agent called carrageenan – also used as a thickener in food – and a solution called gellan, a gelling agent that sticks to the cells in the nose.
Gellan can be sprayed in the form of fine drops inside the nasal cavity, where it can cover the surface evenly and remain at the place of delivery, rather than slipping from the nose.
These ingredients are already approved for medical use, which means they do not require additional approval, The Telegraph said.
“Based on the product, it will be much faster to reach the user than a new drug,” Moakes told the Telegraph.
“I am confident that the wording can have an impact. Our goal is to make an impact as soon as possible. We would love to see this until the summer. ”
The researchers – who have been developing the spray since April 2020 – are in talks with stores and pharmaceutical giants about the next steps to mass-produce it, The Telegraph reported. It is not clear when or when it could become available outside the UK.
The researchers announced in November that laboratory experiments showed that the spray prevented the spread of an infection for up to 48 hours.
Scientists believe that using it four times a day would be sufficient for general protection, although it is safe enough to be used every 20 minutes in a high-risk environment, such as crowded schools.