Vienna-based biotech incubator CEBINA (Central European Biotech Incubator and Accelerator) said that in vitro testing has shown that azelastine has anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, and the company is discussing possible development and production of an azelastine nasal spray for the treatment of COVID-19 with Sigmapharm.
CEBINA added that it has also filed a patent application for the use of azelastine for COVID-19 and intends to look for partners “for worldwide distribution to enter the market in the near future.”
CEBINA CEO Eszter Nagy said, “As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to surge, the identification of azelastine presents a highly promising preventive and/or post-exposure anti-COVID-19 solution, particularly considering that this drug is widely available as nasal spray and can act directly at the initial site of viral infection. We are working towards confirming our findings in a clinical study, especially the observation that a significantly lower dose might be effective. A lower dosage would be expected to reduce the known side effects, which are not significant though potentially unpleasant and could differentiate between the COVID-19 and the anti-allergic indications.”
Read the CEBINA press release.
