THAILAND is expected to launch its nasal spray to prevent Covid-19 in the third quarter of this year.

Foreign Affairs Ministry deputy spokesman Natapanu Nopakun said Chulalongkorn University, Silpakorn University, the Health Systems Research Institute (HSRI), Government Pharmaceutical Organisation and a private bioscience company have been working together to develop the spray.

The research and development (R&D) of the spray started since the onset of the pandemic two years ago, with funding from the business sector and state-run HSRI, he added.

He said the R&D has advanced to the point where a prototype antibody has been obtained and subsequently patented.

“The technology has now been transferred to the private sector. A clinical research has been conducted to meet the standards needed for registration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June.

“The spray is expected to be available for sale in the third quarter of this year.”

He said a collaboration agreement has been inked to manufacture the anti-Covid nasal spray and it can be subjected for global research.

Last week, deputy government spokesman Rachada Dhnadirek said more than 20 Covid-19 vaccines have been researched and developed by state agencies, universities and companies from the onset of the pandemic.

Four locally developed vaccines and an antibody-packed nasal spray will be registered with the local FDA soon, she added. – Bernama, March 7, 2022.