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COVID-19 Enters the Human Body Through the Nose or Mouth, so Where are the COVID-19 Nasal Sprays? Much of our attention during the pandemic has focused on vaccines, face masks, and ventilation. But with the current hyper-transmissibility of Omicron and the not insignificant problems associated with long covid (which can result even from very mild illness in vaccinated people), many would like additional prophylactic measures to reduce the risk of infection. Enter nasal sprays.
Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray
At least one nasal spray is already approved for use in several countries, although not yet (at time of writing) in the U.S. or in Canada, where the company is based. A Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray developed by Vancouver-based SaNOtize kills the coronavirus in the upper airways, keeping it from incubating and spreading to the lungs. A UK study confirmed a rapid 95% reduction in viral load within 24 hours of using the nasal spray in infected adults (99% within 72 hours), while a recent Thai study of individuals quarantined after a high risk exposure to an infected contact found that of those who used the nasal spray, only 6.4% became infected, vs. 25.6% of those who didn't use the nasal spray; nearly quadruple the number. A Phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial in India reduced the SARS-CoV-2 log viral load in COVID-19 patients by more than 94% within 24 hours of treatment, and by more than 99% in 48 hours.
“The SaNOtize nasal spray…contains nitric oxide, which prevents and treats early infection by destroying the virus and impeding viral replication within the cells in the nose. In addition, nitric oxide has been shown to block the ACE2 receptor essential for the virus to infect our cells,” says Dr Chris Miller, Chief Science Officer and Co-Founder of SaNOtize.
To date, SaNOtize has been approved and is produced in Israel under the Enovid brand, and in India under the FabiSpray brand; the spray is also approved and sold in Thailand, Indonesia and Bahrain. Canada has approved a Phase 3 clinical trial.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as though SaNOtize's nasal spray will be approved in the U.S. soon, but that hasn't stopped enterprising companies from importing it from Israel to sell to consumers.
If you're a reader in Israel, India, or another country where SaNOtize's nasal spray is sold and have been using the product, how well has it worked for you?