ENA Respiratory’s INNA-051 non-vaccine, intranasal spray is designed to spice up immune defenses and scale back sickness from respiratory viruses.
A new medical trial led by researchers on the College of Maryland Faculty of Drugs’s (UMSOM) Middle for Vaccine Growth and International Well being (CVD) will check a brand new experimental intranasal spray designed to spice up immune defenses and scale back sickness from respiratory viruses.
The research is being performed in collaboration with ENA Respiratory, the producer of the novel remedy. The randomized double-blind Section 2 trial goals to enroll 1,100 wholesome adults ages 18 to 45 years who’re at elevated danger of higher respiratory virus infections resulting from publicity to younger kids or frequent shut contact with others. Individuals will probably be randomly assigned to obtain the intranasal spray, known as INNA-051, or a placebo spray to find out if INNA-051 is secure and works higher than the placebo at boosting the immune response and stopping sickness.
“This research represents a brand new method to decreasing sickness from respiratory infections,” mentioned Justin Ortiz, MD, Professor of Drugs and a respiratory sickness specialist who’s the UMSOM Principal Investigator for the continuing trial. “As an alternative of focusing on a single virus, INNA-051 strengthens the physique’s early immune defenses, which can assist mitigate illness attributable to a number of respiratory pathogens.”
ENA Respiratory’s non-vaccine, intranasal spray, INNA-051 works as a prophylactic drug designed to be taken weekly throughout chilly and flu season. It’s a TLR2/6 agonist, which works by priming the immune system’s first line of protection in an effort to speed up the clearance of dangerous germs from nasal passages earlier than viruses can get a foothold within the physique and trigger an an infection. INNA-051 is virus-agnostic, that means that it may possibly doubtlessly assist defend in opposition to a wide selection of viruses, and acts within the nasal passages, the location of preliminary replication of widespread respiratory viruses, such because the flu, colds, and COVID-19. The research will examine whether or not INNA-051 can scale back the severity or probability of sickness throughout respiratory virus season.
“This trial exemplifies CVD’s dedication to conducting progressive medical analysis aimed toward decreasing the burden of infectious illness. INNA-051 has the potential to guard these most weak to respiratory viral problems, together with individuals with power lung illness, coronary heart illness, and diabetes,” mentioned James Campbell, MD, MS, Professor of Pediatrics at UMSOM and Interim Director of the Middle for Vaccine Growth and International Well being.
UMSOM Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, added: “Our researchers are aiming to display the thrilling potential of TLR2/6 agonists to change into the primary prophylactic remedy in opposition to respiratory viral sickness. Respiratory viruses proceed to problem our healthcare techniques as a result of they evade our physique’s most elementary immune barrier—the mucosal surfaces of our airways. A preventive method that strengthens this frontline of protection has the potential to rework how we scale back viral transmission locally and will assist construct resilience in opposition to future respiratory threats.”
