Destiny Pharma PLC (AIM:DEST, OTC:DTTYF) and SporeGen have announced positive results from their collaboration to develop SPOR-COV, a nasal spray designed to prevent viruses.
Work partly funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) supported an initial hypothesis that the SPOR-COV can stimulate an immune response against viral threats such as Covid and flu.
Neil Clark, chief executive of Destiny Pharma, said the project "has great potential to deliver new treatments that are safe, effective, low cost and easy to use".
The companies are now planning future studies and seeking partners for the next stage of development.
The data from the research showed the spray acted as a preventative against COVID-19 in SARS-CoV-2 preclinical challenge models.
Data also revealed it provided a significant reduction in signs and symptoms of influenza across multiple models. They also offered preliminary support for SPOR-COV as a potential add-on or ‘adjunct’, to existing vaccines.
A manufacturing process has been established with HURO Biotech, which has also successfully completed phase I clinical studies in Vietnam.
A retail product based on SPOR-COV technology, SPEROMED, has been launched in the country by HURO.
Destiny Pharma and SporeGen are considering options for the next stage in SPOR-COV's development, including possible human studies in Europe and the US.