SaNOtize, a Vancouver based biotech company has developed a COVID-19 preventive nasal spray and is waiting for India to grant it emergency approval amid its deadly second wave after promising clinical trials results in Canada and UK. 

The firm is currently preparing submissions for emergency approval to medical regulators around the world. Dr Gilly Regev, CEO and co-founder of SaNOtize said, “We are currently working to find the right partner in India and hoping it will be approved as a medical device in India to prevent COVID-19.”

Also Read: Almost every third person undergoing COVID-19 test in Delhi infected

She added, “What I would have loved right now is to go and give this to a whole town in India and show that everyone using it is not getting infected,” We would have saved millions of lives if we could have brought it to market last year.”

Israel has already granted approval to the self-administered nasal spray, reported the Times of India. By next month, people could purchase the nitric oxide spray from pharmacies. They will cost $30 for one bottle.

It has exhibited promising results against the virus including the UK variant. Regev said, “In order to convince pharma companies and regulators it is effective, you need the data first. It’s something you can carry with you like a hand sanitiser and use every time you might have been exposed.

Also Read: India bans supply of oxygen to industries to meet demand from COVID-19 patients

According to Regev, the countries could use the nasal spray as a filler to “fill the gap” as they vaccinating their populations.

Talking about India, Regev said SaNOtize is hoping part of the third phase of the clinical trial could happen in the country. The company is in talks with big pharmaceutical companies but is yet to initiate the process with the Indian government. 

Not one of the 103 individuals in Canada who were given the nasal spray to test its prevention power in Phase II of trials tested positive for COVID-19. In Phase II of the UK NHS clinical trials, 79 COVID positive people were given the spray to test early treatment. The ones who were given a placebo spray showed 16 times higher viral loads as compared with the SaNOtize nasal spray, reported the Times of India.

Regulatory approval and acquiring funds to commercially manufacture the product took up time, Regev said. They are looking to get 4,000-5,000 people to take part in the third phase of the clinical trials. 

Regev said, “We are hoping part of our Phase III trials could be done in India. We are looking for the final funding for Phase III. We are also exploring manufacturing sites around the world. I am sure India has quite a few possibilities and locations that will work for us.”

Dr Stephen Winchester, consultant medical virologist and chief investigator of the UK NHS clinical trial, said he expected the nasal spray “to be a major advance in the global battle against the devastating human impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic”.

According to Stephen Winchester, chief investigator of the UK NHS clinical trial, the spray could “be a major advance in the global battle against the devastating human impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

“This simple portable nasal spray could be highly effective in the treatment of Covid-19 and reducing onward transmission,” said Winchester. 

He added, “Our trial included patients with high viral loads yet still demonstrated significant reductions in the levels of SARS-CoV-2, which could be critical in supporting vaccines, preventing future outbreaks and safely reopening economies.

“I think this could be revolutionary,” said Dr Stephen Winchester.