Amcyte Pharma has launched Nasitrol nasal spray for sinus irrigation in the US. In an independent clinical trial published in the peer-reviewed International Journal of General Medicine, Nasitrol reduced Covid transmission among ICU staff by nearly 80%, suggesting it could represent a safe and effective prophylaxis to prevent transmission of Covid-19.
What is Nasitrol?
Nasitrol is a patented nasal spray based on iota carrageenan, a sulfate polysaccharide synthesised by red algae, with demonstrated antiviral activity and clinical efficacy as a nasal spray in the treatment of the common cold. The nasal cavity and the rhinopharynx are key sites of the initial replication of SARS-CoV-2.
What does ioata carrageenan do?
Iota-carrageenan is thought to exert antiviral activity through its interaction with the viral surface, preventing viral entry and capturing viral particles released by infected cells. Nasitrol is designed to reduce the viral load in upper respiratory airways, preventing viruses from proliferating and spreading into the lungs.
Official comments
“We are excited to be commercialising Nasitrol nasal spray, a product that has shown such promise as a prophylaxis against Covid transmission, in addition to vaccination, hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment and social distancing,” said Dr Gustavo Mahler, CEO of Amcyte Pharma.
The study
The clinical study was conducted at eight hospital ICUs with a sample of 394 clinically healthy physicians, nurses and other medical professionals who provided care to Covid patients and who had not yet been vaccinated. Study subjects were randomly assigned to receive four daily doses of Nasitrol spray or placebo for 21 days. The incidence of Covid-19 infection, as detected with PCR testing, was significantly lower in the Nasitrol group compared with placebo (1.0% vs 5.0%), a reduction in risk of 79.8%. The study was led by Dr Juan Figueroa of The Cesar Milstein Research Institute in Argentina.
