Enzymatica AB (publ) announced the New data from an ongoing in-vitro study shows that company's mouth spray ColdZyme blocks the widespread omicron virus from binding to human cells. This indicates ColdZyme could play an important role against many different coronaviruses, including several SARS-CoV-2 variants. Clinical trials will now be accelerated to further investigate the effect in humans.

A research group at the Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria, is currently conducting a multi-level study on the barrier technology used in ColdZyme, Enzymatica's mouth spray against upper respiratory tract viruses causing common cold and flu-like symptoms. Results from the first phase of the study now show that ColdZyme blocks the SARS-CoV-2 omicron virus variant from binding to human cells. The researchers tested ColdZyme mouth spray using a 3D model of human tissue that mimics the surface of the human airway. ColdZyme was sprayed onto the tissue model before application of omicron SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The data show that pre-treatment with ColdZyme blocks the omicron virus. The efficacy of ColdZyme against SARS-CoV-2 variants has also been demonstrated in previous in-vitro studies: An in-vitro study conducted by the same research group at the University of Innsbruck, using the same tissue model, showed that ColdZyme hinders binding and infection by another SARS-CoV-2 variant (not omicron). Furthermore, a study conducted by Enzymatica using an in-vitro virucidal efficacy suspension test showed that ColdZyme disabled a SARS-CoV-2 variant by more than 98%.

ColdZyme is a CE-marked medical device that treats and alleviates common colds. The product is sold in Sweden, UK, and Iceland under the ColdZyme brand and in around 30 markets under other brands.