Project

“Anti Covid-19 spray” is a highly innovative project, carried out by the cross-border cooperation program “Interreg V-A Italy-Switzerland 2014-2020”, which aims to research and develop a formulation to be sprayed in the mouth and nose capable of preventing COVID-19 infection by inhibiting the entry of the virus into the body.

The project has been relized by the Italian company DGP Pharma Srl, Novara (lead organisation), by the Ibis Consortium, Novara (Italian partner) and by VB Technochemicals SA, Chiasso (Swiss partner).

The project started in June 2022 and ended in December 2023 with the full achievement of the set goals. The results obtained are relevant having obtained a nasal and an oral spray with proven protective action in COVID-19 prophylaxis.

The spray is composed of plant extracts: some molecules have been selected and then incorporated into liposomes in order to maximize the absorption in the nasal and oral mucosa.

In this regard, VB Technochemicals SA has identified Sferalp SA, Monteggio (Switzerland) as the galenic development laboratory capable of optimizing the absorption and effectiveness of the natural ingredients of the preparation.
The in vitro tests gave positive results: the cells treated with the preparation under development, survive after being exposed in vitro to the virus much more than the ones exposed in vitro to the virus, not treated with the preparation.

The drawing of the in vivo clinical study to evaluate the effects of the preparation on patients is currently under preparation. The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Eastern Piedmont will be involved in the process.