Queen’s pharmacist launches pioneering antiviral nasal spray that inactivates coronavirus that causes COVID-19 within 60 seconds
John Bell & Croyden – established in 1798 and pharmacists to Her Majesty the Queen since 1958 – has announced the launch an easy-to-use antiviral nasal spray that inactivates the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, as well as other important respiratory viruses. It is available to consumers in the UK, exclusively instore and online at John Bell & Croyden and is available for international export through the pharmacy’s retail channel.
VIRALEZE™ antiviral nasal spray offers another layer of protection in addition to vaccines, masks, and physical distancing, helping to reduce exposure to respiratory viruses. It is the first nasal spray that contains a specifically designed antiviral active1 that irreversibly inactivates >99.9% of coronavirus/SARS-CoV-2 within one minute, as shown in laboratory studies.[1]
Just one spray into each nostril provides a barrier within the nasal cavity, where the density of virus attachment receptors (ACE2) is highest, and where COVID-19 infection has been found to first take hold.[2] Each spray of VIRALEZE™ lasts approximately 4-6 hours, and the product can be used up to four times a day either before or after exposure to the virus.
The antiviral active in VIRALEZE™, known as astodrimer sodium, is a potent virucidal agent that forms a barrier and irreversibly blocks coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 ‘spike’ proteins from binding to nasal mucosal cells required for infection. VIRALEZE™ has a number of unique advantages, including its virucidal action, its rapid onset (inactivates >99.9% SARS-CoV-2 within one minute) and its ability to inactivate virus either before or after exposure, and provides a physical barrier to respiratory viruses in the nasal cavity.
Dr George Kinghorn, Infectious Disease Adviser and former Clinical Director of the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, commented: on VIRALEZE™: “Given that multiple studies have reported that the nasal cavity appears to be the most important route of initial coronavirus infection, VIRALEZE™ should be a very useful tool in addition to other prevention strategies such as vaccines, masks and social distancing.”
“Recent experience suggests that viral pandemics will occur again, so the availability of broad-spectrum antiviral agents, like VIRALEZE™, could prove extremely useful,” added Dr Kinghorn.
VIRALEZE™ is a unique nasal spray that works against multiple strains of SARS-CoV-2 as well as a broad spectrum of other viruses including influenza, RSV, SARS, MERS, HIV, as demonstrated in multiple laboratory studies.
It complements other prevention strategies, such as vaccines, good hygiene practices and face masks. It has special relevance where social distancing is not possible, such as in crowded environments and certain workplaces.
The bottle, which retails for £15, will deliver approximately 80 sprays. The product was developed by Australian biopharmaceutical company Starpharma (ASX: SPL) and is registered for sale in the UK and Europe.
Established in 1798 and pharmacists to Her Majesty The Queen since 1958, John Bell & Croyden’s Wigmore Street store has introduced hundreds of globally sourced wellbeing and beauty products to the UK market over the last 220 years. For more information visit: https://johnbellcroyden.co.uk
[1] https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.08.20.260190
[2] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2020.05.042, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0868-6
