A nasal spray that can be marketed to kill 99.9 percent of virus particles has begun rolling down production lines in an Israeli factory.
The spray could have prevented much of the COVID-19 infection in the world, said dr. Gilly Regev, its inventor, told The Times of Israel.
“We hope that our nasal spray will now save many lives of people in countries waiting for the vaccine,” said Regev, a biochemist admitted by Israel, co-founded with SaNOtize and developed the spray in Canada. “It is affordable and can be used to prevent any respiratory virus infection.”
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According to her, it is effective in the laboratory against a wide range of viruses, and said that new variants of the coronavirus will not affect its effectiveness, emphasizing: ‘It contains a broad-spectrum antiviral agent that kills all viruses and all variant. ”
3D medical animation is still shot with the structure of a coronavirus (https://www.scientificanimations.com/coronavirus-symptoms-and-prevention-explained-through-medical-animation/)
Regev called Enovid a “hand sanitizer equivalent for the nose” and said it creates a physical barrier in the nasal passages to stop viruses, along with a “chemical barrier” of nitric oxide, known for its antimicrobial properties. “The nitric oxide means it’s a special spray that not only blocks viruses, but actually kills them,” she said.
Israel will become the first country where the spray is sold. The Ministry of Health has granted interim approval for its sale as a medical device suitable for people 12 years and older, meaning it can be used by many people who have not yet been approved for coronavirus vaccines, with the packaging: “Scientifically tested to kill 99.9%. viruses within 2 minutes.”
A bottle of Enovid, a new antiviral nasal spray manufactured in Israel (thanks to SaNOtize)
It has also been approved for sale in New Zealand, and approval is sought in other countries, including the United Kingdom.
Regev said the factory in Ness Ziona near Tel Aviv is producing 200,000 to 500,000 bottles by May. “After this, we hope to get a million bottles a month,” said the graduate of Hebrew University, adding, “I hope this product will produce pride and work in Israel.”
The claim on the packaging is based on tests in laboratories during which a series of live viruses, including influenza and SARS-CoV-2, were subjected to the spraying. She acknowledged that the experiments took place outside the human body, in test tubes, and that they did not definitively prove how effective the spray would be in the nasal passages – although she was very encouraging.
Separate research, not referred to on the packaging, suggested that the spray may reduce the impact of COVID-19 among those infected.
SaNOtize and Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Surrey, UK, last week announced the results of clinical trials suggesting that the spray can prevent the transmission of COVID-19, shorten its course and severely treat symptoms and can reduce damage in those. already infected. The study was submitted to a leading medical journal for review and publication.
Family members wearing safety gear visit a family member in the Coronavirus ward at Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem on February 3, 2021 (Yonatan Sindel / Flash90)
The spray was fully developed when the pandemic struck, as it was mainly invented to combat flu. Its innovation is the dosing procedure for nitric oxide. “It normally comes in gas cylinders and is usually delivered to hospitals, but we wanted a practical way to deliver it as a liquid antimicrobial, and have been working for the past twelve years to develop it,” Regev said.
Ingredients of the spray mixture mix together when applied to form nitric oxide, saying: ‘All components are widely used in the food industry and have a very strong safety profile.’ Each bottle contains a monthly supply for one person to spray twice a day for protection against viruses.
She said: ‘Theoretically we could have distributed it a year ago, but we had to negotiate regulatory approval. This is the biggest frustration because we have been trying to bring it to market 24/7 for a year, and it could save many lives. I believe it would prevent infections and reduce deaths. ”
