(ORDO NEWS) — Australian scientists are planning to begin a clinical trial that will test whether a conventional blood thinner nasal spray can prevent COVID-19 infection.
The idea of ​​using such a nasal spray is based on the hypothesis that at the first stage of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the virus particles enter the nose through interaction with the heparan sulfate molecule. The S-protein of the virus binds to heparan sulfate, which increases its ability to interact with ACE2 receptors and infect human cells.
Heparin is a widely used anticoagulant, first discovered over a century ago and used to treat heart attacks and blood clots. According to Gary Anderson of the University of Melbourne, previous studies have shown that heparin is so molecularly similar to heparan sulfate that it can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 virus particles if they want to enter the body through cells in the nose.
A major clinical trial of a nasal spray will begin soon in the Australian state of Victoria . The study plans to distribute the spray to 400 private homes within 24 hours of confirmation of the case in each household. The trial will be blinded and placebo controlled, with each participant being instructed to spray three times a day.
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