Researchers are developing a nasal spray for coronavirus that could protect autistic people with needle phobia.
Scientists from biotech firm pHOXBIO put the spray through a trial that showed it reduced coronavirus disease (Covid-19) by 63 per cent.
Professor Rakesh Uppal said the nasal spray for coronavirus is a “significant breakthrough”
People with learning disabilities are up to six times more likely to die from Covid-19. This is because they often have underlying health problems.
Nasal spray ‘effective’
Rakesh Uppal is professor of cardiovascular surgery at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). He also chairs pHOXBIO, which has developed the nasal spray for over-18s.
He said the spray is a “an effective tool, previously missing, to fight this pandemic”.
The spray offers six to eight hours of protection. This means users would need to administer the medication regularly to keep up the protection.
As well as Covid, the spray is designed to be effective against other viruses.
It’s hoped the spray will soon be produced and distributed. Distribution will begin in India before expanding elsewhere.
Healthcare workers involved in test
The researchers believe the spray will be useful in areas with low vaccination rates. It will also help where there are shortages of personal protective equipment.
Researchers carried out the trial during the surge of the Delta variant in India between April and July this year. Up to 648 healthcare workers in India at high risk of the virus received the spray.
Following the study, 13.1 per cent of those given the spray tested positive. A significantly bigger proportion, 34.5 per cent, tested positive in a comparison group of those who did not have the spray.
Even when those who had the spray tested positive, they were less likely to show symptoms. While only 17.6 per cent of those given the spray who tested positive showed symptoms, among the comparison group 34.6 per cent showed symptoms.
A spokesperson for pHOXBIO said the spray is designed to complement vaccinations and personal protective equipment. However, the spokesperson said it can also be used with “people who haven’t been able to be vaccinated”.
Spray would be ‘very welcome’
Tim Nichols is head of policy for the National Autistic Society.
He said some autistic people have “extreme fears of needles” and a nasal spray would be “very welcome”.
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Published: 24 October 2021. Updated 27 October 2021 and 16 November 2021
