Glenmark to manufacture, market SaNOtize’s Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray (NONS) for COVID‐19 treatment in India, Asian markets

Mumbai : Indian pharmaceutical company Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has entered into an exclusive long term strategic partnership with Canadian biotech firm SaNOtize Research & Development Corporation to manufacture, market and distribute its breakthrough Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray (NONS) for COVID‐19 treatment in India and other Asian markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Nepal, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Timor‐Leste and Vietnam.

In March 2021, SaNOtize’s clinical trials showed NONS was a safe and effective antiviral treatment to prevent the transmission of COVID‐19, shorten its course, and reduce the severity of symptoms. In the first 24 hours, NONS reduced the average viral load by around 95%, and then by more than 99% within 72 hours. It has been tested in healthy volunteers and patients as part of UK and Canada clinical trials.

Available in the form of a simple nasal spray, it is designed to kill the virus in the upper airways, preventing it from incubating and spreading to the lungs. It is based on nitric oxide (NO), a natural nano‐molecule with proven anti‐microbial properties, and which has a direct effect on SARS‐CoV‐2, the virus causing COVID‐19.

“COVID‐19 and its various variants are proving to be a challenge to contain despite the rapid  ‐ and critical  ‐  development of vaccines . SaNOtize is excited to collaborate with Glenmark in providing broader, easier and affordable access to its treatment. In joining forces with Glenmark, SaNOtize can accelerate the efforts to have its antiviral nasal spray available as a self‐administered, first line of defence against COVID‐19 during the current pandemic and to help prevent future outbreaks” said Dr. Gilly Regev, CEO & Co‐founder of SaNOtize.

NONS is one of the few novel therapeutic treatments, outside of expensive monoclonal antibodies, that is proven to reduce SARS‐CoV‐2 viral load in humans.2 NONS has already received a CE mark in Europe, which is an equivalent of marketing authorization in case of a Medical Device (CE mark confirms that the medical device meets certain “essential requirements” of the European General Medical Devices Directive and is safe for the intended purpose). By virtue of the CE mark, SaNOtize has permission to launch NONS in the EU. NONS is also approved and being sold in Israel and Bahrain, under the name enovidTM.

SaNOtize developed and patented a Nitric Oxide Releasing Solution platform technology (NORSTM) to treat and prevent microbial infectionsin 2017. Glenmark’s partnership with SaNOtize will bring in much needed therapeutic relief to patients in India and Asia.