US Scientists Developing Nasal Spray To Prevent Covid-19
Umer Jamshaid Published December 02, 2020 | 01:50 AM
Washington, Dec 1 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Dec, 2020 ) :Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania and the biotech firm Regeneron are investigating whether technology developed for gene therapy can be used to make a nasal spray that will prevent infection with the new coronavirus.
The idea is to use a weakened virus as a delivery truck to carry genetic instructions to cells within the nose and the throat, which will in turn create powerful antibodies to stop SARS-CoV-2 from invading our bodies.
"The advantage of our approach is that you don't need a competent immune system for this to be effective," James Wilson, a professor of medicine at Penn who is leading the project told AFP.
The technology is currently being tested in animals and Wilson believes that, if successful, it could provide people with around six months of protection from a single dose, sprayed up the nose, and therefore complement vaccines that could soon be approved.
Wilson is a pioneer of gene therapy -- delivering genetic code into a patient's cells to correct for defects and treat disease.
His research team discovered that the Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) group of viruses, which infect both humans and other primates but aren't known to cause disease, can be engineered to ferry healthy DNA into cells.
This approach led in 2019 to the approval of Zolgensma, the first drug for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy, and today AAVs are being investigated for dozens of more possible applications.
Wilson was contacted by the US government in February to see if he and his lab could use the technology against Covid-19.
But it wasn't until Regeneron developed two promising lab-made antibodies against the coronavirus, which bind to a surface protein of the pathogen and stop it from invading our cells, that his team could move ahead.
Regeneron's antibodies are themselves in clinical testing but have received emergency approval for patients with mild or moderate Covid-19 who are at high-risk of getting severe disease -- and were notably used recently to treat President Donald Trump.
Researchers are hoping that the nasal spray could be squirted through the nostrils, enter nasal epithelial cells, and hijack their protein-making machinery so that they make Regeneron's antibodies.
Normally, only immune cells create antibodies, which makes the new idea a particularly innovative approach.
Since the coronavirus enters the lungs through the nasal passage, the spray could halt the infection in its tracks.
What's more, AAVs cause only a mild immune response so the side effects could be less severe than the frontrunner vaccines, which work by training the immune system to recognize a key protein of the virus.
Penn and Regeneron hope to complete their animal studies by January, before applying to the food and Drug Administration to begin human trials.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Bugti assures transporters for addressing their problems
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar meets foreign min ..
3 drug peddlers arrested, hashish recovered
1496,990 children given polio drops in five days: DC
Six terrorists killed, hideout busted in N Waziristan IBO: ISPR
Pakistan, Qatar agree to further expand trade, investment ties
Sindh cabinet approves Rs177.5m to strengthen, mobilize various wings of police
Faisal Karim Kundi takes oath as new KP Governor
Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Chaudhry seeks more vibrant ..
Tahaffuz Manzil Foster Home providing care & support to homeless children
PCB proposes April 7 -May 20 window; tweaks in rules for HBL PSL 2025
Field hospitals now operational across Punjab: Azma Bukhari
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
American band promotes intercultural harmony thru music fusions
18 hours ago -
Waste Management – A persistent challenge for MWMC
2 days ago -
Experts for ending child labour
4 days ago -
Labour Day - A reminder for better facilities to workers
4 days ago -
Stage Drama Mohabati Manhoon presents in Arts council Larkana
6 days ago -
Wheat farmers in a fix on price, procurement mechanism
7 days ago
-
Modern tools to help transform crime investigation procedures
7 days ago -
Sanam Marvi captivates audience with mesmerizing performance
8 days ago -
Modern Education Techniques: A pathway to achieve economic development
9 days ago -
Kite Flying: From cultural festival to deadly sport
9 days ago -
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
12 days ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
13 days ago