SARS-CoV-2 In-Vitro Testi Araştırmaları

New preclinical research shows that a nasal mucoadhesive gel, proven effective against common cold viruses, may reduce SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection in cells. P&G Health, the health products division of Procter & Gamble, is conducting long-term research on viruses, particularly rhinoviruses and common cold viruses. The research team wanted to investigate whether nasal mucoadhesive gel technologies, which are effective against common cold viruses when used in nasal spray, would be similarly effective against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, following the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. A laboratory test was conducted to examine the technology's capability to trap the SARS-CoV-2 virus and prevent it from infecting cells it needs to replicate. An antiviral laboratory test was performed with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In vitro testing was conducted at a laboratory in Virginia, United States, using the European Standard EN 14476. During the test, the nasal mucoadhesive gel formulation was treated with the virus at various time points (1, 5 and 10 minutes). After the reaction was stopped, the mixture was added to monolayer cells. The amount of virus in the cells was evaluated after a 7-day incubation period. It was observed that the nasal mucoadhesive gel reduced SARS-CoV-2 virus levels by 99.5% at 1 minute exposure; greater reductions in virus levels were observed at 5 and 10 minute exposures. This result suggests that the nasal mucoadhesive gel may reduce SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in cells. Although this laboratory test demonstrates that the technology has a similar mechanism of action on SARS-CoV-2 as it does against rhinoviruses, further clinical research is needed to determine whether this technology would provide protective benefit against SARS-CoV-2 in humans.

P&G Health is evaluating various research proposals to further investigate the effectiveness of the nasal mucoadhesive gel against a range of respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.

Professor Alyn Morice, Head of Cardiorespiratory Studies at Hull York Medical School in the United Kingdom, stated: "COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on all our lives, and well-designed research investigating every possible treatment option in the fight against COVID-19 will be welcomed. P&G Health's preclinical study is a very interesting piece of research showing a potential link between the reduction in SARS-CoV-2 virus's ability to infect cells with this technology, similar to the proven effectiveness of nasal mucoadhesive gel technology against common colds. Although this preclinical research is based on a previously tested technology, it is a good first step and a necessary starting phase before conducting clinical trials in humans. I encourage P&G Health to develop research plans on this promising technology, while also taking advantage of the extraordinary COVID-19 research capabilities available in universities and institutions we have in the United Kingdom." Note: This nasal mucoadhesive gel contains 1% Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, 1% Succinic Acid, 0.44% Disodium Succinate and 0.35% Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid and is currently used only in Vicks First Defence® nasal spray, a Medical Device in Europe proven effective against common cold viruses. This product is NOT licensed in any market outside Europe; however, P&G Health plans to obtain approval in other countries worldwide for the use of this product against common cold viruses.