Azelastin Nasal Spray Shows 70% Reduction โฃin COVID-19 Infection Risk, Study Finds
[City, State] – [Date] – A newโ randomized, phase II clinical study suggests that a nasal spray containing the antihistamine Azelastin โขmay โsubstantially reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection,โ as well as โฃinfections from other respiratory viruses like rhinovirus. The research, conducted atโ a singleโฃ center with 450 participants, demonstratedโ a roughly 70% reduction in COVID-19 infection rates inโ the group โขreceiving Azelastin โcompared to a placebo group.
the study participants, withโ an averageโ age ofโ 33, were administered either 0.1% Azelastin nasal spray or a โคplacebo three timesโข daily for eight weeks.Notably, โขthe Azelastinโ dosage was higherโ than typically prescribed for allergic rhinitis, usually administered twice a day.โค Most participants (average of three โdoses) had alreadyโฃ received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with theโ most recent vaccinationโ occurringโ approximately two โฃyears โprior to the study’s commencement.
researchersโ found that the Azelastin group experienced a 2% โSARS-cov-2 infection rate, versus 6.7% โคin the placebo group. Furthermore, infectionโ was delayed by an averageโฃ of 12 days in โthe Azelastin-treated group,โข and those who did contract the virus tested positive onโ rapid antigen testsโข (RAT) for 1.7โข days less โthan the control group. โขSymptomatic infections were also less frequent in the treatment group.
Beyond COVID-19, the study revealed Azelastin’sโฃ effectiveness against otherโ respiratory illnesses. โRhinovirus infections occurred in only 2% of the Azelastin โgroup, โคcompared to 6% in theโ placebo group. PCR testing identified respiratory infections in 9%โ of those treated with Azelastin, compared to 22% in โthe control group.
While side effects were similar inโฃ frequency betweenโข both groups, minor reactions – including โa bitter taste, nasal โbleeding, and โfatigue – were reported more frequently enough in the Azelastin group.
Researchers noted that prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and resultingโ antibodies offered a modestโ degree of โprotection, but the Azelastin spray demonstrated efficacy even in those with existing immunity. the findings suggest Azelastin nasal spray could potentiallyโ serve as a preventative measure against a range of respiratory viral infections.