Research shows that the nasal spray that protects against COVID-19 is also effective against the common cold

Research on a new drug that stimulates the immune system in the respiratory tract and is under development for COVID-19 shows that it is also effective against rhinovirus. Rhinovirus is the most common respiratory virus, the main cause of the common cold and is responsible for exacerbations of chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In a study recently published in European Respiratory Journal, the drug, known as INNA-X, is effective in a preclinical infection model and in human airway cells.

Treatment with INNA-X before infection with rhinovirus significantly reduced viral load and inhibited harmful inflammation.

Researcher Nathan Bartlett, of the University of Newcastle and the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI), who led the study, said INNA-X held great promise as a new way to protect people from illnesses caused by common respiratory viruses, like rhinovirus. These diseases range from the common cold to exacerbations of life-threatening chronic respiratory diseases, which cost the global economy billions of dollars each year.

“Consistent with what we reported for other respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), treatment with INNA-X before infection reduced the level of the virus in the respiratory tract,” said the associate professor. Bartlett.

“We also examined the effect of INNA-X on airway cells in patients with asthma who are known to have a less effective antiviral immune response and found that treatment with INNA-X was effective in providing a justification for using INNA-X in risk populations. ”

INNA-X was developed by the Australian biotechnology company Ena Respiratory and works by stimulating the innate immune system of the airways, the first line of defense against the invasion of respiratory viruses in the body. This immune stimulus makes the proliferation of viruses such as rhinoviruses much more difficult, causing severe symptoms and spreading.

INNA-X has also been shown to be highly effective in reducing the release of SARS-CoV-2 viruses and human testing of the Ena Respiratory Clinical Candidate INNA-051 will begin in Australia in the coming weeks.

“If considered protective, this could be used by populations at risk, including the elderly or patients with asthma, to reduce the severity of rhinovirus, COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses in conjunction with vaccine approaches,” said the associate professor. Bartlett.

HMRI is a partnership between the University of Newcastle, Hunter New England Health and the community.