- Significant reduction of infectious viral titer in human nasal epithelium model with either prophylactic or therapeutic application
- Results provide further confirmation for broad applicability in viral infections
HAMILTON, BERMUDA / ACCESSWIRE / November 12, 2021 / Altamira Therapeutics Ltd. (NASDAQ:CYTO), a company dedicated to addressing unmet medical needs through RNA therapeutics, allergy and viral infection protection, and inner ear therapeutics, announced today positive efficacy data from testing its Bentrio™ nasal spray in vitro against the Delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Bentrio™ is a drug-free nasal spray for protection against airborne viruses and allergens, which has previously shown positive outcomes in a test against the Alpha variant of the virus.
For the Delta variant study, BentrioTM or saline control were applied in the same type of assay either prophylactically 10 minutes prior to or therapeutically 24 hours following viral inoculation of reconstituted nasal epithelium cells from human donors, followed by once daily application for four days. In saline-treated control cultures, SARS-CoV-2 replicated efficiently, resulting in a rapid increase in viral titer (as measured by the Median Tissue Culture Infectious Dose, TCID50). In contrast, at Days 3 and 4 both prophylactic and therapeutic treatment with Bentrio™ resulted in significantly lower virus titers, reaching -83% when the application was started prior to infection, and -69 to -85% when the application was initiated only when the infection was already ongoing (all values significant at p<0.01 and <0.05).
"We are very pleased to see the protective effects of Bentrio against SARS-CoV-2 confirmed also with the highly contagious and fast replicating Delta variant," commented Thomas Meyer, Altamira Therapeutic's founder, Chairman and CEO. "These fresh results provide further support for the broad applicability of Bentrio. By forming a protective film on the nasal mucosa and trapping particles, Bentrio has a purely physical mode of action and is thus suitable for use across different types of viruses and virus variants. We look forward to continuing the commercial roll out of the product, making it available to all those seeking protection."
As previously reported, Altamira plans to further confirm BentrioTM's efficacy and safety in a COVID-19 clinical trial. While awaiting study approval by the Drugs Controller General of India, Altamira is also preparing for the conduct of another trial, which may be conducted in lieu of or in combination with the planned trial in India.
About Bentrio™
Bentrio™ (AM-301) is a drug-free nasal spray intended for personal protection against airborne viruses and allergens. Upon application into the nose, Bentrio™ forms a protective gel layer on the nasal mucosa. This thin film is designed to prevent the contact of viruses or allergens with cells; in addition, the composition serves to bind such particles and help with their discharge and to humidify the nasal mucosa. Together, this is designed to reduce the risk of upper respiratory tract viral infections and promote alleviation of allergic symptoms.
About Altamira Therapeutics
Altamira Therapeutics is dedicated to developing therapeutics that address important unmet medical needs. The Company is currently active in three areas: the development of RNA therapeutics for extrahepatic therapeutic targets (OligoPhore™ / SemaPhore™ platforms; preclinical), nasal sprays for protection against airborne viruses and allergens (Bentrio™; commercial) or for the treatment of vertigo (AM-125; Phase 2), and the development of therapeutics for intratympanic treatment of tinnitus or hearing loss (Keyzilen® and Sonsuvi®; Phase 3). The Company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda with its main operations in Basel, Switzerland. The shares of Altamira Therapeutics Ltd. trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "CYTO".
Forward-looking Statements
This press release may contain statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical facts and may include statements that address future operating, financial or business performance or Altamira Therapeutics' strategies or expectations. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may", "might", "will", "should", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "projects", "potential", "outlook" or "continue", or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the approval and timing of commercialization of AM-301, Altamira Therapeutics' need for and ability to raise substantial additional funding to continue the development of its product candidates, the timing and conduct of clinical trials of Altamira Therapeutics' product candidates, the clinical utility of Altamira Therapeutics' product candidates, the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, Altamira Therapeutics' intellectual property position and Altamira Therapeutics' financial position, including the impact of any future acquisitions, dispositions, partnerships, license transactions or changes to Altamira Therapeutics' capital structure, including future securities offerings. These risks and uncertainties also include, but are not limited to, those described under the caption "Risk Factors" in Altamira Therapeutics' Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020, and in Altamira Therapeutics' other filings with the SEC, which are available free of charge on the Securities Exchange Commission's website at: www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated. All forward-looking statements and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Altamira Therapeutics or to persons acting on behalf of Altamira Therapeutics are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Altamira Therapeutics does not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable law.
Investor contact:
Stephen Kilmer
646.274.3580
sjk@altamiratherapeutics.com
SOURCE: Altamira Therapeutics Ltd.
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