This may be the solution in addition to the vaccine that could help stem the epidemic.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States are looking to develop a nasal spray that would produce powerful antibodies that would prevent infections with the new coronavirus.
A drug that relies on gene therapy by introducing genetic material through the nose and throat with cells capable of providing this immune response.
“The advantage of our approach is that you don't have to have a competent immune system for this to be effective,” explained Professor James Wilson, project leader for the University of Pennsylvania.
Based on a cocktail of synthetic antibodies
Currently this spray is tested on animals.
According to the researchers, this method could protect against the new coronavirus for about six months for a single dose and be a complement to future vaccines.
Another advantage is that the side effects could also, they argue, be less than those of the vaccines about to be approved.
A pioneer in gene therapy, James Wilson was contacted in February by the US government to find out if his laboratory could use this rapidly expanding technology against Covid-19.
But his team could not move forward until after the development by the company Regeneron of an innovative treatment based on a cocktail of synthetic antibodies.
Since the American Medicines Agency (FDA) recently granted emergency authorization for this treatment, used in particular to treat President Donald Trump.
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The University of Pennsylvania and Regeneron plan to complete their animal testing by January before asking the FDA for a green light for human testing.
