INNA - O51

INNA-051 Scientists develop 'corona killer'? The new substance was tested on ferrets and they were amazed Spray tested on ferrets contains a compound that stimulates TLR2 and TLR6 receptors to attract large numbers of white blood cells Writes: Jutarnji.hrPosted: September 28, 2020 9:50 pm Skunks; illustration Skunks; illustration David Spidlen / Point of Break / Profimedia Facebook Twitter Messenger E-mail A nasal spray that needs to be injected once a week could provide solid protection against covid-19, writes the Daily Mail . The spray has so far been tested on ferrets that received two doses of the agent the day before they were exposed to the coronavirus - an artificially created molecule that stimulates the immune system. The results showed that the agent reduced the replication of the virus in the noses of ferrets by as much as 96 percent, thus reducing the risk of infection and the spread of the disease. An artificially created compound called INNA-051 will begin testing on humans in the next four months. The product was originally developed to protect against cold and flu viruses, but approval is still pending because it has not yet been proven to work without any doubt. However, previous research has shown that it 'speeds up' the antiviral response in the cells in the throats of healthy volunteers and those suffering from asthma, and that it provides prolonged protection in mice against rhinoviruses that cause runny nose in humans. If approved, it could provide additional protection for those at increased risk of covid-19 infection, including the elderly and those suffering from certain medical conditions. A study describing the details of the INNA-051 experiment was published on the bioRxiv portal, but has not yet been reviewed. The spray was developed by the Australian company Ena Respiratory, which started working on it even before the pandemic hit the world. The spray contains molecules designed to stimulate the TLR2 and TLR6 receptors on the mucous epithelial cells that line the throat and nose, to attract a large number of white blood cells to the area and thus enhance the immune response. The spray test conducted on ferrets was led by Professor Miles Carroll , Deputy Director and Head of the Research Department of the Porton Down Public Health Institute of England. RELATED NEWS 8793179 PANDEMIC The number of deaths from Covid in the world exceeded one million: 'The situation in Germany is very worrying' UNCERTAIN Slovenia does not rule out the possibility of a new declaration of the epidemic: 'The situation remains dramatic' Dr. Christophe Demaison , director of Ena Respiratory in Melbourne, says: - We are delighted with how effective this treatment is. By boosting the natural immunity of our ferrets, we came to the very rapid destruction of the virus. If people are shown to react in a similar way, the benefits of this treatment are twofold, Demaison adds. - People exposed to the virus could very quickly eliminate it from the body or ensure that a more severe form of the disease does not develop. This is especially important for vulnerable groups of citizens. In addition, the speed of the reaction makes the infected person a less likely carrier of the disease which means that local transmission could be reduced in this way. The company says that the funds are insured if tests on humans prove successful, so the product could start to be produced in large quantities very soon. Professor Roberto Solari , a respiratory specialist and consultant at Ena Respiratory and a guest lecturer at Imperial College London, says: - This is a significant achievement at a time when the world is looking for ways to stop the transmission of the new coronavirus to at-risk populations. - The most exciting thing about INNA-051 is that it significantly reduces the amount of virus in the nose and throat, which gives hope that this could prevent the virus from spreading to people who show no symptoms and are unaware that they are infected. The company has provided $ 8.25 million in funds for further development and is seeking additional financial support for new research. INNA-051 provides protection against all respiratory diseases, not just the new coronavirus. The study was performed on 24 female ferrets who received different doses of spray during which they were sedated. After spraying, the animals were exposed to the virus to see if the preservative