Brit scientists develop coronavirus inhaler which could fight disease at first sign of symptoms

BRITISH scientists have developed a new coronavirus inhaler which could help to fight the bug as soon as early symptoms appear.

Researchers from the University of Southampton have sent 120 inhalers out to Covid-19 patients for a home trial beginning today.

The promising new technology uses an experimental drug that boosts the immune system, which has the code SNG001.

This contains a protein named interferon beta, which is produced by the body whenever we contract a viral infection.

It is already used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, and has previously shown positive results in alleviating Covid-19 symptoms in a Hong Kong trial when combined with other drugs, ABC reports.

When the drug is inhaled, it can be delivered directly to the lungs and help suppress the effects of the virus.

Scientists now hope it will prevent patients entering the "deadly phase" of the virus which tends to arise on day ten after first showing symptoms.

If trials are successful, Southampton-based firm Synairgen hopes to roll out "millions of doses" later this year - which could hugely boost the nation's fight against the pandemic.

While the team behind the inhaler are soon to finish a hospital trial involving 100 patients, with results to be published in July, they maintain that the new home test is key to determining the efficiency of the treatment.

Study leader Professor Nick Francis told the Daily Mail: "We are in need of a treatment for Covid-19 that can be given to patients early in the course of the illness in order to prevent progression to severe symptoms."

The patients who have a severe case of Covid-19 tend to develop serious symptoms – such as breathing problems and pneumonia – in the second week after contracting the virus.

Richard Marsden, head of Synairgen, added it could prevent the virus entering this fatal second week.

He said: "We can stop people from having that bad second week.

"Boris Johnson had that problem – it was that second week when he was in hospital. That seems to be the pattern – it’s about day ten when people are getting into big trouble. They move from flu-like symptoms to being extremely breathless and having pneumonia."

As part of the new trial, patients will be sent a full testing kit within 72 hours of developing breathing problems and other symptoms.

They will take one puff of the inhaler once a day, and record changes in their oxygen saturation and temperature.

Doctors will then monitor their status after 14 days, to make sure they have not relapsed.

The trial includes over-65s - or those who are aged 50 and over with underlying conditions - who live within 40 miles of Southampton.

Those who went through the previous clinical trial in hospital have already reported positive results.

One told the BBC: "You don't notice you're taking it 'til you're finished. It's not so bad. I could see myself taking it at home."

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If the trial is successful, it will need to be licensed by drug regulators.

But researchers hope that good results will speed up the process.

Mr Marsden said: "We are aiming to be in a position to provide millions of doses later this year."