New research suggests one over-the-counter nasal spray is effective in significantly reducing and nearly eliminating SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 after a single dose.
An in vitro study conducted by scientists at Northwestern University and Utah State University concluded that components found in the Xlear nasal spray, notably grapefruit seed extract and xylitol, had managed to statistically reduce the amount of SARS-CoV-2.
After a single explosion, the researchers saw that the nasal spray reduced the virus from 4.2 to 1.7 log10 CCID50 per 0.1 ml, a statistically significant reduction of 2.5 log10 CCID50. News of the study was announced by Xlear, and the company said this is just the latest study to conclude that the over-the-counter spray is effective against the virus that causes COVID-19.
Xlear is currently sold as a nasal rinse for cleaning and moisturizing the nasal cavities.
Professor Mark Cannon of the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University said the study is groundbreaking in two areas. Cannon said using electron microscopy, the researchers saw visual evidence showing that the combination of xylitol and grape seed extract counteracts the virus. The grape seed extract kills the virus, while xylitol prevents the virus from attaching to the cell walls, Cannon said in the announcement. The study states that xylitol acts as a bait for SARS-CoV-2, preventing virus attachment to the core protein on the cell wall, he said.
“In addition to counteracting SARS-CoV-2, Xlear is likely to be effective in preventing the spread of future H1N1 viruses, including the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, along with other viral epidemics. Given the more transferable variants we are now facing, this is now critical, ”Cannon said in a statement.
No doubt that in vitro evidence will be used to support a new one petition for the World Health Organization. This week, a coalition of health workers petitioned the World Health Organization to issue a guideline calling for “all people should use nasal sprays to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.” The petition, which is supported by Xlear, contains data showing that these nasal sprays are able to block viral adhesion and even kill or inactivate the virus in the nasal passages. The petition specifically calls for WHO guidelines to focus on the use of nasal sprays containing xylitol and grapefruit seed extract, which can be found in Xlear.
“Nasal sprays are proven to be safe, cheap, non-invasive, easy to use and you can buy them from your local store anywhere in the world. There is a growing body of data that sprays, especially Xlear, can help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s pure common sense, ”said Nathan Jones, Xlear CEO in a statement.
In December, Xlear filed a pre-Emergency Use Authorization request with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in hopes of obtaining approval for the spray as a new hygiene agent to combat the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Xlear isn’t the only nasal spray to show promise in providing another level of protection against COVID-19, which has infected nearly 100 million people around the world and has resulted in the deaths of more than 2 million people. Researchers at the University of Birmingham in the UK have developed a nasal spray that can potentially protect against COVID-19. The spray uses compounds that have already been approved by regulatory authorities in the UK, Europe and the US, including carrageenan, along with a gellan polysaccharide.
Another nasal spray that uses a lipopeptide, a cholesterol particle linked to a chain of amino acids, has also shown promise in preclinical testing. Such as BioSpace previously reportedthe lipopeptide exactly matches the stretch of amino acids in the peak protein of SARS-CoV-2. The lipopeptide attaches to one of the amino acid chains of the spike and prevents viral attachment.
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