CEBINA publishes data demonstrating the anti-histamine azelastine inhibits infection by major variants of SARS-CoV-2
Vienna, 4th July 2022
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CEBINA GmbH, Central European Biotech Incubator and Accelerator, today announces the publication of research results demonstrating that the commonly used anti-histamine, azelastine, is a potent inhibitor of major variants of SARS- CoV-2 in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Pharmacology (1).
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Despite many countries relaxing COVID precautionary measures, experts have warned of a resurgence of SARS-CoV-2 infections already beginning this summer and a return to pandemic restrictions. Since emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants exhibit increased infectivity and existing vaccines have reduced efficacy against emerging mutants it is vitally important to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 with additional anti-COVID approaches. The data presented in the newly published research paper describes the application of a novel computational prediction approach for the identification of the anti-histamine drug, azelastine as anti-COVID-19 approach. The data demonstrate the comparable potency and efficacy of Azelastine against the original, alpha, and delta variants SARS-CoV-2 virus in cell culture and reconstituted human nasal tissue.
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“We are very pleased to see our work recognized through publishing in a peer-reviewed journal. Azelastine is already widely available as nasal spray and acts directly at the initial site of viral infection, therefore we believe it to have great potential as long-term solution to combat viral infections, in the early phase when the virus is mainly in the nose” commented Professor Dr Robert Konrat, CEBINA’s collaborator from the University of Vienna.
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“The publication of our data on azelastine potency against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its major variants provides the basis for our goal to develop a commercially already available azelastine nasal spray as an anti-COVID approach”. commented Eszter Nagy, MD PhD, CEO, CSO and founder of CEBINA. “Azelastine has already been successfully tested in a Phase 2 clinical trial through our partnership with URSAPHARM Arzneimittel, where it was proven to significantly reduce the viral load in the nasal cavity of SARS-CoV-2 positive patients, without adverse health events.”
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CEBINA has previously partnered with the pharmaceutical company URSAPHARM Arzneimittel who have completed a Phase 2 clinical trial and are currently entering in a multi-national Phase 3 clinical study testing the efficacy of their marketed azelastine containing nasal spray, Pollival®, in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients.
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Konrat, R., et al., The Anti-histamine Azelastine, Identified by Computational Drug Repurposing, Inhibits Infection by Major Variants of SARS-CoV-2 in Cell Cultures and Reconstituted Human Tissue (doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.861295)
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ABOUT CEBINA:
CEBINA GmbH – Central European Biotech Incubator and Accelerator (www.cebina.eu) is an Austria-based company committed to advancing entrepreneurship through creating and nurturing early-stage life science projects and companies to develop new medicines and cutting-edge technologies. CEBINA actively identifies academic projects with product development potential to create new companies. CEBINA is also pursuing its own research & development projects, in particular in the infectious diseases area and has initiated multiple R&D projects to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. CEBINA also offers office and laboratory facilities, in-house research, development, financing and management capabilities to early and medium stage biotech companies.
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Contact:
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Sophie Zettl, PhD
CBO
CEBINA GmbH
+43 676 3731595