COVID Treatment: Glenmark Inks Deal With Sanotize Research To Launch Nasal Spray In India

The nitric oxide (NO)-based nasal spray, according to Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, is aimed at destroying the coronavirus in the upper airways,

New Delhi: Glenmark Pharmaceuticals announced on Monday that it has reached a deal with SaNOtize Research and Development Corp, a Canadian biotech company, to launch its nasal spray for Covid-19 treatment in India and other Asian nations. 

According to a statement issued by the Indian company, Glenmark and SaNOtize will produce, market, and circulate their Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray (NONS) in India, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Nepal, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste, and Vietnam under the exclusive long-term strategic partnership. 

“In joining forces with Glenmark, SaNOtize can accelerate the efforts to have its antiviral nasal spray available as a self-administered, first line of defence against COVID-19 during the current pandemic and to help prevent future outbreaks,” Gilly Regev, CEO and co-founder of SaNOtize, said Glenmark Pharmaceuticals' chairperson and managing director Glenn Saldanha in a statement. 

He further stated that the company will assure quick and widespread availability of this effective nasal spray, which is expected to provide much-needed relief to patients throughout the region and the globe. 

The nitric oxide (NO)-based nasal spray, according to Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, is aimed at destroying the coronavirus in the upper airways, stopping it from developing and spreading to the lungs. 

 NONS was found to be a safe and effective antiviral medication for preventing Covid-19 transmission, shortening its duration, and reducing the severity of its symptoms in clinical trials conducted by SaNOtize in March of this year. According to the business, it was evaluated in healthy volunteers and patients in clinical studies in the United Kingdom and Canada. 

Glenmark announced in July that it had submitted a request to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for emergency approval for the nasal spray's import and marketing. 

"The committee has recommended a phase III clinical trial to be conducted in Indian patients in the weeks to follow. The phase III clinical trial for NONS is expected to be completed, followed by commercial launch under the brand name FabiSpray in India, by the fourth quarter of the calendar year 2021," Glenmark Pharmaceuticals quoted.