Lexington company developing nasal spray to treat COVID-19

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – A pharmaceutical company in Lexington is working to produce a nasal spray that could prevent someone from getting the coronavirus, according to a report in the Lexington Herald-Leader.

The report says Summit Biosciences, Inc. announced this week it has been awarded a contract from Seattle-based pharmaceutical company, Atossa Therapeutics, Inc., to fast track the development of a nasal spray to be used on patients who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, but who haven’t had symptoms severe enough to be hospitalized.

The nasal spray would not replace a vaccine once it’s developed, but is designed to be a bridge to a vaccine, Summit Biosciences’ COO told the newspaper.

The company hopes to begin clinical trials by the end of September if approved by the FDA, according to the report.