New research suggests one over-the-counter nasal spray is effective by significantly reducing and nearly eliminating SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 after a single dose.
An in vitro study by scientists at Northwestern University and Utah State University concluded that the components found in Xlear nasal spray, particularly grapefruit seed extract and xylitol, had success in statistically reducing the amount of SARS-CoV-2.
After a single blast, the researchers saw nasal spray reduce the virus from 4.2 to 1.7 log10 CCID50 by 0.1 ml, a statistically significant reduction of 2.5 log10 CCID50. “Xlear announced the news of the study and the company said this is only the latest research to come to the conclusion that over-the-counter spray is effective against the virus that causes COVID-19.
Xlear is currently sold as a nasal irrigant to cleanse and hydrate the nasal cavities.
Professor Mark Cannon of Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University said the study opens ground in two areas. Cannon said that using electron microscopy, the researchers saw visual evidence showing that the combination of xylitol and grape seed extract counteracts the virus. Grape seed extract kills the virus, while xylitol prevents the virus from sticking to cell walls, Cannon said in the ad. The study postulates that xylitol acts as a deceptive target for SARS-CoV-2, preventing the virus from attaching to the central protein of the cell wall, he said.
“In addition to fighting SARS-CoV-2, Xlear will likely be effective in preventing the spread of future H1N1 viruses, including emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2, along with other viral epidemics. Given the more transmissible variants we face now, this is critical now, “Cannon said in a statement.
This in vitro evidence will certainly be used to support a new one request before the World Health Organization. This week, a coalition of health professionals filed a petition with the World Health Organization to issue guidelines calling for: “all people use nasal sprays to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.” The petition, backed by Xlear, claims data showing that these nasal sprays are capable of blocking viral adhesion and even killing or disabling the virus in the nasal passages. The petition specifically calls for the WHO Guide to focus on the use of nasal sprays containing xylitol and grapefruit seed extract, which is found in Xlear.
“Nasal sprays are safe, economical, non-invasive, easy to use and you can get them at your local store around the world. There is a growing group of data that aerosols, particularly Xlear, can help combat the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s pure common sense, “said Nathan Jones, CEO of Xlear in a statement.
In December, Xlear filed an application for emergency pre-use authorization with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in hopes of obtaining spray authorization as a new hygiene tool to help to fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Xlear is not the only nasal spray that shows promise in providing another level of protection against COVID-19, which has infected nearly 100 million people worldwide and killed more than 2 million people. Researchers at the University of Birmingham in the UK have developed a nasal spray that can provide protection against COVID-19. Spray is used compounds that are already approved by regulatory authorities in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States, including carrageenan, along with a gel polysaccharide.
Another nasal spray that uses a lipopeptide, a cholesterol particle linked to an amino acid chain, has also been shown to be promising in preclinical testing. How BioSpace previously reported, the lipopeptide coincides exactly with the amino acid section of the SARS-CoV-2 ear protein. Lipopeptide binds to one of the amino acid chains in the ear and prevents viral fixation.
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