A recent clinical trial has demonstrated that a nasal spray formulation of Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) can significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection in cancer patients. The latest study involved 433 participants and revealed an 8.3% COVID-19 infection rate in those treated with IFN-α nasal spray. In comparison, the placebo group had an event rate of 14.4%. Together, this results in an impressive 40% reduction in relative risk. The risk ratio is 0.60 (0.33, 0.97 CrI 95%).
Other secondary outcomes were analyzed by the trial using a Bayesian statistical framework, including being co-primary outcomes. It used binomial regression to contrast the endpoints among treatment arms. All patients from the study cohort had either hematological malignancies or solid tumor malignancies. Results The median age of our participants was 62 years old. Interestingly, over half of participants were female, making up 52.5% of the cohort.
Interferon-alpha has long been recognized for its antiviral, antimicrobial, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory effects. The team gave participants the nasal spray daily. It proved to be safe and well tolerated, effectively sidestepping the complicated drug interactions that are frequently seen with other cancer therapies. Specifically, the research found no statistically significant difference in COVID-19 risk among important populations. This was the case even among those aged <65 years, among females and those vaccinated against COVID-19.
The rate of other respiratory viral infections was consistent at 5.1% in the IFN-α and placebo groups. Still, the dramatic drop in COVID-19 infections highlights the nasal spray’s promise as a preventive weapon against the virus. This research may have significant ramifications for addressing COVID-19 dangers in at-risk populations, including those receiving antifolate chemotherapy regimens like many people undergoing cancer treatments.
Interferon-alpha nasal spray and placebo, which were made by a third-party compounding pharmacy. This process ensured that participants were not aware of which formulation provided the most effective treatment.
