Clinical, Biochemical and Molecular Evaluations of Ivermectin Mucoadhesive Nanosuspension Nasal Spray in Reducing Upper Respiratory Symptoms of Mild COVID-19

Abstract

Zaki F Aref,1 Shamardan Ezz Eldin S Bazeed,2 Mohammed H Hassan,3 Abeer S Hassan,4 Alaa Rashad,5 Rehab G Hassan,6 Aida A Abdelmaksoud1 1ENT Department, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt; 2Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Department, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt; 3Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt; 4Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt; 5Department of Chest Diseases and Tuberculosis, Faculty of Medicine, South Vally University, Qena, Egypt; 6Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, EgyptCorrespondence: Mohammed H HassanDepartment of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, 83523, EgyptTel [phone]Email [email protected]: Ivermectin is an FDA-approved broad-spectrum anti-parasitic agent that has been shown to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro.Objective: We aimed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of ivermectin mucoadhesive nanosuspension intranasal spray in treatment of patients with mild COVID-19.Methods: This clinical trial included 114 patients diagnosed as mild COVID-19. Patients were divided randomly into two age and sex-matched groups; group A comprising 57 patients received ivermectin nanosuspension nasal spray twice daily plus the Egyptian protocol of treatment for mild COVID-19 and group B comprising 57 patients received the Egyptian protocol for mild COVID-19 only. Evaluation of the patients was performed depending on improvement of presenting manifestations, negativity of two consecutive pharyngeal swabs for the COVID-19 nucleic acid via rRT-PCR and assessments of hematological and biochemical parameters in the form of complete blood counts, C-reactive protein, serum ferritin and d-dimer which were performed at presentation and 7 days later.Results: Of the included patients confirmed with mild COVID-19, 82 were males (71.9%) and 32 females (28.1%) with mean age 45.1 ± 18.9. In group A, 54 patients (94.7%) achieved 2 consecutive negative PCR nasopharyngeal swabs in comparison to 43 patients (75.4%) in group B with P = 0.004. The durations of fever, cough, dyspnea and anosmia were significantly shorter in group A than group B, without significant difference regarding the duration of gastrointestinal symptoms. Duration taken for nasopharyngeal swab to be negative was significantly shorter in group A than in group B (8.3± 2.8 days versus 12.9 ± 4.3 days; P = 0.0001).Conclusion: Local use of ivermectin mucoadhesive nanosuspension nasal spray is safe and effective in treatment of patients with mild COVID-19 with rapid viral clearance and shortening the anosmia duration.Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT04716569; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04716569.Keywords: ivermectin nanosuspension, nasal spray, COVID-19, biochemical and molecular

Keywords

• ivermectin nanosuspension
• nasal spray
• covid-19
• biochemical and molecular.