India’s 1st Nasal Spray For Treating Covid Patients Launched: Price, Features, Precautions

Pharma company Glenmark has launched a nasal spray for treating Covid-affected adult patients called FabiSpray which is a Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray.

The Drugs Controller General of India had given its manufacturing and marketing approval to Glenmark for the product.

Successful Trials

Phase 3 trials in India met the primary endpoint and demonstrated 94% reduction of viral load in 24 hours and 99% in 48 hours.

It was found to be safe and well-tolerated in COVID-19 patients.

Its ability in reducing viral load has “significant positive impact from a patient and community perspective”, said Senior VP and Head of Clinical Development in Glenmark Dr. Monika Tandon.

Useful Against Variants

She said that it is a useful option in the ongoing times when new variants having high transmissibility emerge.

She added that studies were conducted in Utah State University, USA in which the spray killed 99.9% of SARS-Cov-2 viruses including Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon variants within 2 minutes.

How It Works

The company claims that when it is sprayed over nasal mucosa it acts as a physical and chemical barrier against the virus, thereby preventing it from incubating and spreading to the lungs.

It says that it is designed to kill the virus in the upper airways and has “proven anti-microbial properties with a direct virucidal effect on SARS-CoV-2.”

The company said that it is an effective and safe antiviral treatment for Covid.

Helping Curb Transmission

One of the Principal Investigators of the study Dr Srikanth Krishnamurthy confirmed that the spray lowers the viral load and hastens RT-PCR negativity when used early in infection.

Its ability to reduce viral load is important since it has the potential to reduce the chain of transmission.

The price hasn’t been revealed yet.