Influenza antibody spray could open new approach to respiratory disease control

US research-driven biopharmaceutical company Anadis, which focuses on polyclonal antibodies to address human disease, has claimed progress concerning its accelerated programme to develop a nasal antibody spray to provide immediate post-exposure prophylaxis against a range of influenza viruses.

Working with an animal influenza challenge model in the laboratory of Professor Loreena Brown at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, scientists successfully completed a series of proof-in-principle experiments. Designed specifically to test influenza prevention and treatment, they reportedly demonstrated the ability of Anadis" antibody nasal spray formulation to "switch-off" virus replication at the respiratory tract lining.

The studies indicated a significant impact of single and daily dose of the Anadis polyclonal antibodies in reducing the likelihood of infection and reducing the severity of those infected with influenza.

"Our new topical spray approach to protecting individuals during seasonal or epidemic flu outbreaks is a radical new paradigm to protect people from these influenza viruses," said Anadis ceo Dr Zeil Rosenberg. "We know from current failures in vaccine protection this past year that novel approaches like this are urgently needed."

Anadis" polyclonal antibodies are obtained using its own proprietary approach to vaccinating dairy cows and then leveraging advanced dairy industry methods collect first-milking colostrum under GMP conditions, where it is further formulated as a spray dried powder, for later reconstitution as a nasal spray.