New Antiviral COVID-19 Treatment to Be Used as Nasal Spray Could Be Made Available Over the Counter

An antiviral treatment to be used as a topical nasal spray as prophylaxis against COVID-19 promises to be easy to use, low-cost and quickly made available over-the-counter for consumers.

The Nomovid Nasal Spray developed by Parnell Pharmaceuticals (San Rafael, CA, USA) is based upon a substance licensed by the company from New Mexico Tech University to treat drug-resistant bacteria and fungi such as MRSA and Candida auris. Since it breaks down lipids in the viral envelope, Parnell tested it against the novel coronavirus.

“An independent, outside laboratory has confirmed our findings and found it to be greater than 99.9% effective in vitro against the SARS-CoV-2 virus,” said Dr. Francis Parnell, Chairman and CEO of Parnell Pharmaceuticals. “Our product is based upon existing FDA approvals of the active ingredients for use in intravenous and inhalation formulations for other indications. Since the nose is the main route of entry into the body of SARS-CoV-2, we have prepared it in a nasal spray.”

Parnell has now applied for funding from the US government program Operation Warp Speed, and requested for an Emergency Use Authorization, which will allow the product to be manufactured and distributed while it goes through the necessary Phase 3 clinical trials.

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