Broad-spectrum Antiviral Nasal Spray to Prevent and treat Infection by SARS-CoV2 and Seasonal Respiratory Viruses in High Risk Patients and Health Care Providers

Respiratory virus infections kill hundreds of thousands of people a year around the World. During pandemics this number can increase by over 100-fold. We are developing a nasal spray that has a compound in it that is antiviral against a broad spectrum of different pandemic and seasonal viruses. This antiviral, that we have named RespVirex targets the central replication engine of most viruses, called the polymerase. That means that if the central engine is stopped then the infection is slowed or it is prevented entirely. The throat is the first place that respiratory viruses take hold in the body. Therefore, we are developing RespVirex into a nasal/throat spray and aerosol that can be conveniently dosed by health care professionals and high risk patients to protect them from a broad range of viruses that circulate every flu season and during pandemics. RespVirex is being tested by an international team across Canada and at the Institute Pasteur in Senegal to test its usefulness on African SARS-CoV2 and other tropical viral infections.