Azelastine Nasal Spray Shows Promise in Preventing COVID-19
A clinical trial conducted at Saarland University has found promising results for the use of azelastine nasal spray in preventing COVID-19. The study, involving 450 healthy volunteers, suggests that regular use of the spray may reduce the risk of contracting the virus by 69%.
The main analysis of the trial showed that only 2.2% of people in the azelastine group tested positive for COVID-19, compared to 6.7% in the placebo group. The primary measure was the number of participants who developed PCR-confirmed COVID-19 during the 56-day study period. The spray also appeared to offer protection against other respiratory viruses, with only 1.8% of azelastine users testing positive for rhinovirus compared to 6.3% of placebo users.
Participants using azelastine tended to go longer before contracting COVID-19, with an average time to infection of 31 days versus 19 days in the placebo group. They were also 71% less likely to catch the common cold. The trial included a diverse range of participants, with most being female (66%) and white (93%), and a median of three COVID-19 vaccine doses.
The trial results indicate that azelastine nasal spray could be an effective additional measure in preventing COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. Side effects were generally mild and consistent with what is already known about the drug. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore the potential benefits of azelastine in a broader population.
Read also:
- Americans Lose Insurance Under New Tax Legislation, Affecting 10 Million Citizens
- Pro-Life Group Condemns FDA's Approval of Generic Abortion Drug
- Trump Signs Law Defunding Planned Parenthood, Threatening Healthcare Access for Millions
- Historian Ute Frevert Explores Germans' Emotional Bond With Constitutions
