00:00A common over-the-counter nasal spray used to treat allergies may also protect against COVID-19, according to a new study.
00:09Scientists say azolastine appears to help prevent COVID-19 in addition to viruses like the flu and RSV.
00:16As part of the study, German researchers tested 450 adults, all in their early 30s.
00:22About half were given the nasal spray three times daily, while the others were given a placebo spray.
00:28Researchers say the group that used the actual nasal spray had a significantly lower infection rate of around 2 percent, compared to 7 percent in the placebo group.
00:38They say it's unclear why the medication works to prevent COVID, but they have a few theories, including its ability to block an enzyme the virus uses to replicate and binding the virus to a mucous membrane in the nose, stopping it from entering the body.
00:53The study's lead author stresses more research is needed, and the spray should not be seen as a replacement for vaccination.
01:00He also notes the study was performed on young and relatively healthy participants, suggesting the need for testing on more vulnerable groups.
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