Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jun 17, 2026 1 hour, 4 minutes ago
Medical News: A newly developed nasal spray combining an old antiparasitic drug with a natural polysaccharide has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in stopping influenza infections during their earliest stages. Researchers in South Korea have developed a Dual-Action Niclosamide-Polysaccharide Nasal Spray (NPNS) that not only blocks viruses from gaining a foothold in the nose but also suppresses their ability to multiply once infection has begun.
New dual-action nasal spray dramatically suppresses influenza replication while helping prevent viral spread from
the nose to the lungs
The study was conducted by scientists from Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in Yongin, Republic of Korea; the College of Veterinary Medicine, Biosafety Research Institute and Core Facility Center for Zoonosis Research at Jeonbuk National University in Iksan, Republic of Korea; and the Department of Biohealth at Kunsan National University in Gunsan, Republic of Korea.
A New Strategy Against Respiratory Viruses
Respiratory viruses such as influenza typically enter the body through the nose before spreading into the lungs. Although vaccines and antiviral medications remain important tools, rapidly mutating viruses continue to challenge existing prevention and treatment strategies.
The research team focused on the nasal cavity because it is the primary entry point for respiratory viruses. Their goal was to create a therapeutic spray capable of acting immediately at the site of infection before viruses can spread deeper into the respiratory tract.
The resulting formulation combines xanthan gum, a naturally derived polysaccharide widely used in pharmaceutical products, with niclosamide, a drug originally developed to treat tapeworm infections. In recent years, niclosamide has attracted growing attention because of its broad antiviral properties.
Powerful Suppression of Flu Virus Activity
Laboratory testing showed that the nasal spray was non-toxic and safe for cells. Researchers then evaluated its antiviral activity using human nasal epithelial cells designed to mimic the environment inside the human nose.
The results were striking. The spray reduced influenza viral gene expression by at least 92.5 percent. Importantly, the combined formulation performed significantly better than versions containing only niclosamide or only xanthan gum.
Researchers found that the spray remained highly effective even when treatment was delayed for several hours after infection. Although earlier treatment produced the strongest effects, meaningful antiviral activity was still observed when the formulation was administered up to eight hours after viral exposure.
These findings suggest that the two ingredients work together in a synergistic manner, providing greater protection than either component alone.
Long Lasting Protection Inside the Nasal Cavity
One of the most notable features of the formulation was its ability to remain attached to nasal tissues for extended periods.
Animal experiments demonstrated that more than 80 percent
of the spray remained in the nasal cavity eight hours after administration. Even after 24 hours, more than 75 percent of the original material was still present.
This prolonged retention is largely attributed to xanthan gum, which forms a protective layer over the nasal mucosa. The adhesive properties allow the antiviral ingredients to remain in direct contact with tissues where viruses first establish infection.
Reduced Viral Spread and Lung Damage
This
Medical News report highlights another important finding from the study. The nasal spray did not simply reduce viral activity in the nose; it also significantly lowered viral levels in the lungs.
In influenza-infected mice, treatment with NPNS reduced viral gene expression in both nasal and lung tissues. The reductions observed in lung tissues were particularly noteworthy because the spray appeared to provide stronger suppression of viral activity than oseltamivir in certain measurements.
Researchers also observed reduced lung inflammation in treated animals. Since severe influenza complications often result from inflammation and damage within the lungs, this finding could have important clinical implications.
Animals receiving the spray generally experienced milder disease progression and less tissue damage than untreated animals.
A Unique Dual Mechanism
Further analysis revealed that the spray works through two complementary mechanisms.
First, xanthan gum forms a physical barrier that helps prevent viruses from attaching to and invading cells. Second, niclosamide interferes with a cellular protein called SKP2, which many viruses exploit to enhance their replication.
The researchers discovered that NPNS significantly lowered SKP2 levels in infected tissues. In some treatment groups, SKP2 expression was reduced by approximately 50 percent. By suppressing this pathway, the spray appears to help restore the body's natural ability to eliminate viruses through cellular cleanup processes known as autophagy.
Because this mechanism targets host biology rather than the virus itself, it may potentially remain effective against a broad range of respiratory viruses while reducing the likelihood of antiviral resistance.
Conclusion
The findings indicate that the Dual-Action Niclosamide–Polysaccharide Nasal Spray represents a promising new approach for the early treatment of influenza and potentially other respiratory viral infections. By combining a long-lasting physical barrier with a powerful antiviral mechanism that suppresses viral replication, the formulation offers protection at multiple levels. The ability to remain in the nasal cavity for extended periods, reduce viral spread to the lungs, decrease inflammation, and target a host pathway involved in viral survival makes this technology particularly attractive. While further human clinical studies are needed, the results suggest that this innovative nasal spray could eventually become an important first-line intervention capable of limiting infection before serious respiratory disease develops.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/12/5420
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