Iota-Carrageenan Nasal Spray in the prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19

Marinomed Biotech AG (VSE:MARI), an Austrian science-based biotech company with globally marketed therapeutics derived from innovative proprietary technology platforms, announced today that Carragelose inactivates the new, rapidly spreading variants and SARS-CoV-2 wildtype with similar efficacy in vitro. The Company tested the three variants that currently mostly drive the COVID-19 pandemic, namely the so-called British or B.1.1.7, the South-African or B.1.351, and the Brazilian or P1 variant.[*] The data demonstrate that also with increasing prevalence of virus variants, the marketed OTC Carragelose-based lozenges, nasal and throat sprays will continue to effectively contribute to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Note: 

• Carragelose is a brand name of iota-carrageenan from Marinomed.
• Do not confuse Betadine nasal spray with Betadine Mouth Wash. The main ingredient for Betadine nasal spray is iota-carrageenan whereas for mouth wash is povidone iodine.

Iota-carrageenan nasal spray Amazon

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a major health, social, and economic burden, and we now see variants of SARS-CoV-2 taking over the dynamics of the pandemic. We are very confident in these results that show Carragelose inactivates SARS-CoV-2, independent of the mutations we tested,” said Dr. Eva Prieschl-Grassauer, Chief Scientific Officer at Marinomed. “Given the broad antiviral efficacy and the physical mode of action, we were convinced that SARS‑CoV‑2 variants are unlikely to evade the antiviral efficacy of Carragelose. With these new results we confirmed the hypothesis that our Carragelose-based products continue to be effective also against the mutations of concern currently emerging strongly. We believe that this will hold true for any future variants.”

In recent in vitro tests, Marinomed included four lentiviruses differently pseudotyped with the spike protein of wild-type SARS-CoV-2 or one of the three variants B.1.1.7, B1.351 and P1, respectively. Carragelose was able to inactivate all four virus forms at concentrations below 5 µg/ml. This is clinically relevant for the use of Carragelose-containing products: The marketed nasal sprays have a Carragelose concentration of 1.2 mg / ml, a more than 200-fold higher dose as shown to be effective in vitro. The non-sulfated polymers HPMC and CMC were ineffective even at the highest concentrations tested.

In addition, two of the three SARS-CoV-2 variants (B1.1.7 and B1.351) were independently tested in Vero cell tissue culture in cooperation with the virological institute of the University Hospital Erlangen, Germany. Carragelose showed similar effectiveness against the SARS-CoV-2 wild type and the tested variants.

Dr. Prieschl-Grassauer continued: “We are very pleased to show that Carragelose is effective regardless of the actual SARS-CoV-2 variant. With the extensive discussions we are seeing around maintaining efficacy against a mutating virus, it is reassuring to know that Carragelose is a simple, safe, and effective means of supporting the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. With the data we have already seen against SARS-CoV-2 wild type, we are confident that this will hold true also for SARS-CoV-2 variants in the clinic.”

Marinomed’s lentivirus data show the ability of Carragelose to prevent the virus from attaching to the host cell. The infectious virus particles used in the cooperation with the virological institute of the University Hospital Erlangen mimic the effect of an actual infection, where the virus replicates in the host cells and then reinfects further cells, thereby spreading the infection in the body. Both are established and scientifically widely accepted models. Taken together, the data show how Carragelose can effectively inhibit SARS-CoV-2 variants in tissue culture. The cooperation partners plan to publish the data in a peer reviewed journal.

About Carragelose®:

Carragelose® is a sulfated polymer from red seaweed and is a unique, broadly active anti-viral compound. It is known as a gentle yet effective and safe prevention and treatment against respiratory infections. Several clinical and preclinical studies have shown that Carragelose® forms a layer on the mucosa wrapping entering viruses, thereby inactivating them, and preventing them from infecting cells. Increasing clinical evidence indicates that Carragelose® can also inactivate SARS-CoV-2.[1],[2]

[1] https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.13.21255409v1.full.pdf
[2] https://www.marinomed.com/en/news/marinomed-biotech-ag-shares-positive-clinical-trial-results-for-iota-carrageenan-nasal-spray-in-the-prevention-of-covid-19-1

Marinomed is holder of the IP rights and has licensed Carragelose® for marketing in Europe, parts of Asia, Canada, and Australia. For a full list of Marinomed’s portfolio of Carragelose® containing nasal sprays and oral products, please visit https://www.carragelose.com/en/portfolio/launched-products, for a list of scientific publications on Carragelose®, https://www.carragelose.com/en/publications.

About Marinomed Biotech AG

Marinomed Biotech AG (Korneuburg, Austria) (VSE:MARI) is an Austrian science-based biotech company with globally marketed therapeutics listed on the Prime Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange. The company focuses on the development of innovative products based on two patent-protected technology platforms. The Marinosolv® technology platform increases the efficacy of hardly soluble compounds for the treatment of sensitive tissues such as eyes, nose, lung or gastrointestinal tract. The Carragelose® platform comprises innovative patent-protected products targeting viral infections of the respiratory tract and can reduce the risk of an infection with SARS-CoV-2. Carragelose® is used in nasal sprays, throat sprays and lozenges, which are sold via international partners in over 40 countries worldwide. Marinomed, Marinosolv® and Carragelose® are registered trademarks of Marinomed AG. These trademarks may be owned or licensed in select locations only. Further information is available at https://www.marinomed.com/en/technologies-markets/markets.

[*] Full scientific name is P1 (L18F T20N P26S D138Y R190S K417T E484K N501Y D614G H655Y T1027I)

FLCCC (Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care) I-MASK+ Protocol

Betadine nasal spray (Carragelose containing nasal spray) was added to the FLCCC I-MASK+ early outpatient treatment protocol (Apr 26, 2021 version).

Published Studies on Iota-Carrageenan and COVID-19

Check out the summary of evidence on Iota-Carrageenan versus COVID-19 from c19ic.com (constantly updated).

Jun 29, 2021: S.SiAndri Frediansyah. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health
The antiviral activity of iota-, kappa-, and lambda-carrageenan against COVID-19: A critical review

Jun 14, 2021: Hemila et al. Pharmacol Res Perspect. 2021 Aug; 9(4): e00810.

Carrageenan nasal spray may double the rate of recovery from coronavirus and influenza virus infections: Re‐analysis of randomized trial data

Apr 28, 2021: Schütz et al., American Journal of Physiology: Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, doi:10.1152/ajplung.00552.2020 (Peer Reviewed) Carrageenan-containing over-the-counter nasal and oral sprays inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection of airway epithelial cultures

Apr 27, 2021: Varese et al., bioRxiv, doi:10.1101/2021.04.27.441512 (Preprint) (In Vitro) in vitro Iota-carrageenan prevents the replication of SARS-CoV-2 on an in vitro respiratory epithelium model

Apr 15, 2021: Figueroa et al., medRxiv, doi:10.1101/2021.04.13.21255409 (Preprint) symp. case, ↓79.8%, p=0.04. Efficacy of a nasal spray containing Iota-Carrageenan in the prophylaxis of COVID-19 in hospital personnel dedicated to patients care with COVID-19 disease A pragmatic multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (CARR-COV-02)

Feb 17, 2021: Morokutti-Kurz et al., PLoS ONE, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0237480 (Peer Reviewed) (In Vitro) in vitro Iota-carrageenan neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 and inhibits viral replication in vitro

Aug 21, 2020: Bansal et al., bioRxiv, doi:10.1101/2020.08.19.225854 (Peer Reviewed) (In Vitro) in vitro Iota-carrageenan and Xylitol inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in cell culture

Related: 

• List of Doctors that will prescribe I-MASK+ protocol

• Where to buy carrageenan spray > Amazon

For post-covid or long covid syndrome, check out FLCCC I-Recover Post-COVID Protocol. For a simplified version of the I-MASK+ protocol, the FLCCC has also developed the I-MASS protocol.

Below are links to studies or articles about the efficacy or success of some of the other remedies we recommend for prevention and treatment.

• Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray and COVID-19
• Betadine (Povidone Iodine) and Coronavirus
• Xlear Nasal Spray COVID-19
• Mouthwash eliminates coronavirus in 30 seconds… in the lab (BBC Science Focus)
• Library of Articles and Studies on the success of the H2Bev drinks (H2Bev website)
• Vitamin D can help reduce coronavirus risk by 54%: Boston University doctor (Boston Herald)