An Israeli-made nasal spray appears to have contributed to a reduced COVID-19 infection rate among ultra-Orthodox members of a synagogue in Bnei Brak amid Rosh Hashanah festivities last year, a new trial has shown.
Of 83 worshipers who used the spray as instructed before Rosh Hashanah prayers and for the following two weeks, just two contracted the highly contagious virus, in a real-world test of the substance which is designed to create a protective gel layer over the nasal mucosa to blocks viruses from infecting the nasal cells. The study was conducted by makers of the Taffix spray, Nasus Pharma, along with scientists from the University of Haifa, the University of Virginia, and the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem. The full study was initially published in November 2020, with an updated version posted last month.
According to the study, Nasus Pharma approached a medium-sized synagogue community of some 250 members in Bnei Brak ahead of Rosh Hashanah in September 2020 to gauge their interest in participating in the trial involving the spray, which was touted as an extra layer of protection. Each member was eligible to collect a bottle of Taffix at the synagogue the day before Rosh Hashana prayers and received written instructions on the proper usage of the spray.
Get The Start-Up Israel's Daily Start-Up by email and never miss our top storiesFree Sign Up
At the time, Israel was a world leader in the number of new COVID-19 cases per million citizens, and the infection rate among ultra-orthodox communities was double that of the general population. Since Rosh Hashanah is characterized by mass prayers in synagogues and family events, there were concerns about Jewish high holiday events as potential post-mass gathering outbreaks, especially in ultra-Orthodox communities. Before the holiday in mid-September, Bnei Braks positivity rates for COVID-19 were 17.6%, climbing to 28.1% two weeks later, the study showed.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews are pictured praying in a synagogue divided with plastic sheets in Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, amid measures put in place to stem the spread of Covid-19 on September 7, 2020. (Menahem Kahana/AFP)
This is a community that has different priorities and values, Nasus Pharma CEO Dr. Dalia Megiddo told The Times on Friday. Although the government tried to explain and to enlist opinion leaders, it was very clear they were going to go to the synagogue come what may. So we said, OK, this is going to be a super-spreader event.'
At the end of the two-week trial, 81 of the 83 members of the synagogue who used the spray as instructed every five hours whenever they left their residences for the following 14 days did not contract the virus. The two who did get infected rarely used the spray, and the remaining members of the community did not use Taffix at all.
These important results conform with prior in vitro studies performed with Taffix that proved its robust activity against the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 , Dr. Megiddo said in an announcement in October. This is the first clinical real-life data showing that the use of Taffix is highly effective even in the worst-case scenario of a super spread event in the heart of the worst-hit city in Israel.
In previous lab studies with Taffix, the spray was shown to be 99% percent effective in blocking viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, from infecting human cells, Nasus Pharma had indicated. The spray has been approved for use in Israel since last July and has a CE mark for use in Europe.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews during morning prayer in a synagogue during a nationwide three-week lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Bnei Brak, Sept 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
Professor Yaakov Naparstek, the scientific director of the Meuhedet HMO Research Institute and a physician at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem who co-authored the study, said that the fact that Taffix was able to significantly reduce infection rate in users of the product is very encouraging.
It may offer an additional layer of protection to people who encounter events that pose high risk of infection. The data contributes to our knowledge of the effect on population protection, he went on, adding that additional controlled clinical studies will be needed to determine specific efficacy in different circumstances.
Given the excellent safety profile of Taffix and its statistically significant efficacy in preventing infection following what is defined as high-risk infection event it seems that this additional layer of protection can significantly reduce the risks of infection and may enable people to resume some part of their daily routine more safely, the authors wrote.
The Israeli-made nasal spray Taffix is said to reduce infection risk by 99 percent in lab studies, say makers of the product, Nasus Pharma. (Screenshot)
Nasus Pharma is a privately held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2019. Based in Tel Aviv, the company says it is developing a number of intranasal products aimed at assisting patients in several acute emergency situations such as opioid overdose and anaphylactic shock.
In addition to Taffix, Nasus Pharmas products include Intranasal Naloxone, heading to a phase II trial, and Intranasal Epinephrine, currently in phase II, as well as a number of preclinical products.
I'm proud to work at The Times of Israel
As The Times of Israel's environment reporter, I try to convey the facts and science behind climate change and environmental degradation, to explain - and critique - the official policies affecting our future, and to describe Israeli technologies that can form part of the solution.
I am passionate about the natural world and disheartened by the dismal lack of awareness to environmental issues shown by most of the public and politicians in Israel.
I'm proud to be doing my part to keep The Times of Israel's readers properly informed about this vital subject.
Your support, through membership in The Times of Israel Community, enables us to continue our important work. Would you join our Community today?
Thank you,
Sue Surkes, Environment Reporter
Youre serious. We appreciate that!
Were really pleased that youve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
Thats why we come to work every day - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we havent put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Originally posted here:
Study: Israeli-made anti-COVID nasal spray reduced infection at mass gathering - The Times of Israel
- Stem Cell Therapy Virginia | Stem Cell Treatments [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2014]
- Virginia Stem Cell Treatments | Stem Cell Treatments [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2014]
- About Us - StemCell ARTS - Stem Cell Therapy and PRP for ... [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2014]
- Virginia (Stem Cell) - what-when-how [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2014]
- Posts Tagged virginia - virginia StemCell Doctors [Last Updated On: August 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: August 29th, 2014]
- Williamsburg Stem Cell Therapy, Stem Cell Therapy ... [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2014]
- Virginia Beach Stem Cell Therapy, Stem Cell Therapy ... [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2014]
- Stem Cells Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - Fetal stem cells ... [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2014]
- Cell Stem Cell Protocol Review - Medicine School of ... [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2014]
- Why Didn't They Win? 10 Huge Discoveries Without a Nobel Prize [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- Misfolded Proteins Clump Together in a Surprising Place [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2014]
- Ridiculously tiny stomachs created for disease experiments [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2014]
- Billionaire's New Science Institute Plans 'Google Maps' View Of Cells [Last Updated On: December 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 9th, 2014]
- Stem cells and cell adaptations to particular functions [Last Updated On: December 19th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 19th, 2014]
- The Week That Was: Bear Down [Last Updated On: December 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 22nd, 2014]
- Most cancers are just bad luck, others from bad genes, environment [Last Updated On: January 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 20th, 2015]
- New ACL Preservation at G2 Orthopedics and Sports Medicine [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2015]
- NASA awards UCI $9 million to study underlying mechanisms of 'space brain' [Last Updated On: March 18th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 18th, 2015]
- Stem Cell Transplantation - Virginia Cancer [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2016]
- Regenerative Medicine Research - Virginia-Maryland College ... [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2016]
- Home - StemCell ARTS [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2016]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Neck & Back Pain - DC Metro Area [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2016]
- U.Va. Smashes Barrier to Growing Organs from Stem Cells ... [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2016]
- Tests show no signs of cancer for Danville 2-year-old - GoDanRiver.com [Last Updated On: July 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 6th, 2017]
- Everything's a hustle in Orphan Black episode 5.5 - SYFY WIRE (blog) [Last Updated On: July 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 9th, 2017]
- Grant supports 3D innovation in stem cell-related cancer research at ODU - Southside Daily [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2017]
- Roanoke researchers pursue treatments for the type of deadly brain cancer affecting McCain - Richmond.com [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2017]
- John Theurer Cancer Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Announce 100 - Business Wire (press release) [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2017]
- SpaceX Dragon Delivers Supplies (and Science) to Space Station - Space.com [Last Updated On: August 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 19th, 2017]
- Stem Cell Therapy Hair Growth | McLean | Virginia Surgical ... [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2017]
- Stem Cell Therapy - Virginia Spine Institute [Last Updated On: July 11th, 2018] [Originally Added On: July 11th, 2018]
- PRP & Stem Cell Treatment in Richmond VA - Dr. Bill Nordt ... [Last Updated On: July 11th, 2018] [Originally Added On: July 11th, 2018]
- Stem Cells Lynchburg VA | Stem Cell Recovery SW Virginia [Last Updated On: July 24th, 2018] [Originally Added On: July 24th, 2018]
- Stem Cell Transplantation at Virginia Oncology Associates [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2018] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2018]
- Stem Cell Richmond Virginia 23230 [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2019] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2019]
- Virginia Beach VA 23460 - National Stem Cell Therapy [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2019]
- Stem Cell Injections Richmond, Virginia | Alternative to ... [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2019] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2019]
- Stem Cell Therapy in Dallas, TX | National Stem Cell Centers [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2019] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2019]
- Top 25 Most Haunted Places in Virginia - Colonial Ghosts [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2019]
- Dr. Christopher Good | Spinal Surgeon | Virginia Spine [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2019]
- Oliver and Elizabeth Hedgepeth column: Human donations are a gift of life - Richmond.com [Last Updated On: November 25th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 25th, 2019]
- Brown fat warms your body in cold weather | NOVA - NOVA Next [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- Q&A: Cancer Death Rates Are Falling Nationally. Here's What's Happening at UVA - University of Virginia [Last Updated On: January 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2020]
- Bent into shape: The rules of tree form - Knowable Magazine [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2020]
- First-of-its-Kind Bio-Artificial Pancreas on Track for Type-I Diabetes Cure - Global Trade Magazine [Last Updated On: February 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: February 8th, 2020]
- Focused Ultrasound Opening Brain to Previously Impossible Treatments - University of Virginia [Last Updated On: May 12th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 12th, 2020]
- Surrozen reloads with $50M for final dash to the clinic, shines some light on lead Wnt-modulating candidates - Endpoints News [Last Updated On: June 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 20th, 2020]
- Landmark transplant in 1960s Virginia performed with heart stolen from a Black man - Live Science [Last Updated On: August 12th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 12th, 2020]
- WVU assistant professor receives $3 million to study impacts of air pollution on lungs - The Daily Athenaeum - thedaonline [Last Updated On: August 31st, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 31st, 2020]
- Alleged unwanted hysterectomies and other abuses at ICE facility prompts investigation - USA TODAY [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Talaris Therapeutics Announces Collaboration With Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates to Advance Preclinical Study of Tolerance Induction to Organs From... [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- U.S. elections bring wins and losses for research community - Science Magazine [Last Updated On: November 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 5th, 2020]
- Viewpoint: Rightwing packing on Supreme Court means ERA more crucial than ever to protect Women's Rights - Blog - The Island Now [Last Updated On: November 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 5th, 2020]
- Anatomy of a vaccine: What it takes to create a safe, effective COVID shot - University of California [Last Updated On: December 9th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 9th, 2020]
- Novel Bone Marrow 'Ingredient' To Help Arthritic Horses The Horse - TheHorse.com [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2021]
- Clint Smith's 'How The Word Is Passed' And Race History - NPR [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2021]
- Habitable Earth an anomaly? Awardees of STEM grants study this and more | University of Hawaii System News - UH System Current News [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2021]
- Pollution could be sucking the youth out of you, quite literally - ZME Science [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2021]
- 'Where Does It Hurt?': Primary Care Tips for Common Ortho Problems - Medscape [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2022] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2022]
- Plug-and-play organ-on-a-chip can be customized to the patient - EurekAlert [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2022] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2022]
- What it's like to compete in the science fair 'Olympics' - Science News for Students [Last Updated On: May 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: May 15th, 2022]
- PARP Inhibitors Are Under Study as Treatment Options Beyond BRCA-Mutated Breast Cancer - OncLive [Last Updated On: May 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: May 15th, 2022]
- With Supreme Court Failing California, Is It Time to Go on Our Own? - zocalopublicsquare.org [Last Updated On: July 11th, 2022] [Originally Added On: July 11th, 2022]
- DiPersio receives awards recognizing contributions to cancer care, research Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis - Washington... [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2022] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2022]
- Long COVID-19 and other chronic respiratory conditions after viral infections may stem from an overactive immune response in the lungs - Huron Daily... [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2022]
- Long COVID-19 May Stem From an Overactive Immune Response in the Lungs - SciTechDaily [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2022] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2022]