The company also says its Viraleze nasal spray works against other viruses such as RSV, SARS, and MERS.
Professor Philippe Gallay from the Scripps Research Institute said it was remarkable that astodrimer sodium demonstrated potency against the various strains of COVID-19.
“SPL7013 acts as a barrier to viral infection, and its broad-spectrum activity demonstrates its resilience against a rapidly changing target,” Gallay said.
A spokesman for Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt told The Epoch Times that the currently available data for the spray, which shows that it is virucidal, is pre-clinical data.
“There is currently no clinical data available to show the safety or efficacy of VIRALEZE,” the spokesman said. “However, a double-blind, placebo-controlled, safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic study of VIRALEZE nasal spray is currently underway.”
“Any recommendation regarding the use of this product would depend on an analysis of evidence from clinical trials regarding its safety and efficacy.”
Independent MP Craig Kelly said he wasn’t familiar with the new substance, but that everyone should look at the science, the research, and the evidence around medicines that treat COVID-19.
“We hear that premiers and prime ministers regularly say, ‘we take advice from medical experts.’” Kelly told The Epoch Times. “Well, I think it’s time they got a second opinion because there are many other medical experts that have a completely different opinion to what the official state line is.”