Birmingham Biotech Ltd and the University of Birmingham have signed a licensing agreement to commercialise a novel anti-viral nasal spray that protects against COVID-19.
While existing measures like wearing masks and handwashing remain essential, this nasal spray provides an additional protective measure with the potential to reduce transmission.
Birmingham Biotech Ltd, an innovator in diagnostic tests, protective nasal sprays and mobile medical facilities, and the University of Birmingham have signed a licensing agreement to commercialise a novel anti-viral nasal spray that protects against COVID-19.
COVID-19 is both contracted and transmitted by inhalation of droplets or aerosols containing the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and the nose is the major viral entry point into the body, making it an ideal target for approaches designed to reduce person-to-person transmission.
The formulation was engineered by Professor Liam Grover, from the University’s Healthcare Technologies Institute, and a team of researchers who also collaborated on its testing.
As COVID-19 restrictions around the world are gradually lifting, there is a real need for effective methods of viral protection. While existing measures like wearing masks and handwashing remain essential, this nasal spray provides an additional protective measure with the potential to reduce transmission. We are thrilled to be working with Birmingham Biotech to bring the anti-viral nasal spray to individuals around the world.
Michael Hsu, Managing Director at Birmingham Biotech commented, “We are delighted to enter into a partnership with the University of Birmingham and to be able to work together with its world-leading academic researchers, to advance medical innovations. We have a shared commitment to bring our proprietary anti-COVID-19 nasal spray to as many people as possible at an affordable price, focusing on developing markets with the greatest need.”
The anti-viral spray is designed to work by encapsulating and deactivating the virus while it is still in the nose, preventing its wider uptake by the body. It is formulated with two compounds that are already approved by regulatory bodies in the UK, Europe and the US and widely used in medical devices, medicines, and food products.
Each of these compounds performs specific functions. The first is a polysaccharide gel which can ‘plume’ rather than ‘jet spray’ when applied with a typical nasal spray applicator and is retained on the mucous-coated epithelia in the nose where it coats and retains the virus, so it does not travel further down the respiratory tract. The second compound is a potent antiviral agent called carrageenan.
The Birmingham researchers confirmed the complete inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 activity provided by carrageenan and the ability of the formulation to prevent contraction and transmission in cell culture and confirmed that the spray covers a surface area that is six times greater than when formulated without the gel.1
The licensing agreement covers the entire duration of the patents and gives Birmingham Biotech exclusive rights to market and sell the anti-viral nasal spray worldwide, except for India. Further to the licensing agreement, Birmingham Biotech plans to establish a joint venture with the University of Birmingham to commercialise new products based on intellectual property and technical knowledge from the university.
In the future, the two parties plan to co-develop other innovative products and technologies, such as COVID-19 throat sprays and nasal sprays targeted to protect individuals from other viruses. The anti-COVID-19 nasal spray is expected to be available in the UK and Asia in early 2022.
For media enquiries please contact Ruth Ashton, Birmingham Enterprise, University of Birmingham
Grover LM et al. Formulation of a Composite Nasal Spray Enabling Enhanced Surface Coverage and Prophylaxis of SARS-COV-2. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.202008304
Birmingham Biotech is an innovator in diagnostic tests and protective nasal and throat sprays for COVID-19 and other medical conditions with an urgent, unmet need. In partnership with the University of Birmingham, Birmingham Biotech is committed to ensuring that patients in developing countries have access to the latest high-quality, affordable healthcare delivered through its rapid global supply chain. Birmingham Biotech is trusted by governments and healthcare providers around the world as a one-stop-shop for tests, equipment and consumables approved and recognised by international regulators.
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 6,500 international students from over 150 countries.
The Healthcare Technologies Institute, led by Professor Liam Grover, brings together leading experts from a variety of disciplines across the University of Birmingham, including chemical engineering, biomedical science, computer science, applied mathematics, chemistry and physics. Researchers across campus are working collaboratively to speed up the translation of new discoveries into health applications. The research will support the development of existing markets and stimulate new ones for Life Sciences businesses, enabling them to bring products to market quickly, at less cost with reduced risk.
Head of School
Staff profile for Professor Liam Grover, School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham
