SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian biotech company Ana Resperi said on Monday it was developing a nasal spray to improve the human immune system to fight the common cold and flu, which in a recent study on animals significantly reduced coronavirus growth.
A study on ferrets showed an INA-051 dubbed product that could be used to supplement the vaccine, lowering virus levels which reduced COVID-19 levels by 96%, the company said. The study was led by the British government agency Public Health England.
Ana Resperi said she would be ready to test INNA-051 in human trials in less than four months, subject to successful toxic studies and regulatory approval.
The company has raised 11.7 million ($ 8.24 million) for the development of the spray. Investors include venture capital company Brandon Capital Ltd., The Australian Federal Government, pension funds and biotech giant CSL Ltd.
Many companies around the world are trying to develop a coronavirus vaccine. Australia has agreed to invest billions by potential drug companies to protect potential vaccines for Covid-19, which has killed more than 992,000 people worldwide.
Australia There have been 875 deaths so far in Australia and only more than 27,000 cases of coronavirus, far fewer than in other developed countries.
(Reporting by Renju Jose; Editing by Ana Nicolasi da Costa)
