Scientists at the Dutch company Leyden Labs have developed an innovative nasal spray for flu prevention, which has shown promising results in initial human clinical trials.
Unlike traditional flu vaccines, which are often only 50% effective due to the variability of specific strains, this new approach aims to block the virus directly at its point of entry into the body—the nasal cavity.
The spray contains a powerful antibody called CR9114. Its uniqueness lies in its ability to recognize and block almost all types of Group A and B influenza viruses. Through tests conducted on 143 volunteers aged 18 to 55, scientists determined that the drug is completely safe and does not cause serious side effects.
The study showed that using the spray twice a day is optimal, as the nasal cavity is constantly cleared and the antibody’s half-life is three hours. One of the most impressive findings is that the concentration of antibodies in the nasal mucosa is 4,600 times higher with the spray than with traditional intravenous infusion, while using significantly smaller doses.
Although the antibody was able to completely neutralize the virus in laboratory conditions, scientists still need additional research to confirm how effectively the spray will protect humans from natural infection in a real-world environment and whether it will stop person-to-person transmission of the virus.
