The nasal-spray version of the COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Oxford University researchers and AstraZeneca Plc, failed to provide the expected protection in human trials, which was a significant setback.
In a statement, the University of Oxford noted that just a small percentage of trial subjects-who were in the first of typically three phases of clinical testing-showed an antibody response in the respiratory mucous membranes. Additionally, it demonstrated that the immune response detected in the blood was less potent than that from a vaccination that required an injection into the arm.
Nasal spray vaccines against the coronavirus have received a lot of attention from researchers around the world because the approach is thought to have the potential to prevent infection as well as a disease because it may elicit an immune response directly in the airways, where the virus enters the body. The procedure would also be less unpleasant and more manageable than injections.
In the meantime, products that are supplied through the airways have already received approval from regulators in China and India. The COVID-19 nasal spray vaccine from Bharat Biotech was approved by the Indian Health Minister last month, while the inhaled COVID-19 vaccine from CanSino Biologics Inc. was given emergency permission by China's drug authority.
While the results of Bharat's trial have not yet been made public, CanSino has claimed that studies show their vaccine, administered using a nebulizer device, may develop robust immunity to successfully contain an illness.
The British study included 12 volunteers who had previously undergone a conventional two-dose immunization course via injection in addition to 30 previously unvaccinated people.
"The nasal spray did not perform as well in this study as we had hoped." Sandy Douglas, chief investigator of the trial at Oxford University's Jenner Institute said. "We believe that delivery of vaccines to the nose and lungs remains a promising approach, but this study suggests there are likely to be challenges in making nasal sprays a reliable option," she added.
According to the statement, no significant adverse events or safety issues were reported throughout the trial, which was funded by AstraZeneca.
AstraZeneca plc is a worldwide pharmaceutical and biotechnology business with British and Swedish roots. Its headquarters are in Cambridge, England's Cambridge Biomedical Campus. Its product portfolio covers cancer, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, infectious, neurological, respiratory, and inflammatory illnesses. It contributed to the creation of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
The Swedish Astra AB and the British Zeneca Group were merged to create the company, which was established in 1999. Since the merger, it has become one of the largest pharmaceutical firms in the world and has acquired numerous businesses.
