Australian pharma firm Starpharma has achieved regulatory approval for its antiviral nasal spray product, Viraleze, in Malaysia. The registration will allow Starpharma and its commercial partners to market and sell the product in Malaysia, a country with a population of over 33 million.

Viraleze has been well received in Asia to date, following successful launches of the product locally in Vietnam, Hong Kong and Macau. Starpharma continues discussions with potential commercial partners in Malaysia as well as other parts of Asia and countries across the world.

It is a nasal spray that works by physically trapping and blocking cold/respiratory viruses in the nasal cavity. Multiple nonclinical studies have shown that Viraleze traps and blocks a broad spectrum of respiratory viruses, including human coronaviruses, influenza viruses, rhinoviruses, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Starpharma is also currently conducting a post-market clinical study of Viraleze in people with COVID-19. The clinical study, which will examine the antiviral activity and ability of Viraleze to reduce viral load over a 7-day period, is underway in the United Kingdom and has recruited more than 80% of the target number of participants to date.

Starpharma now has registrations for the nasal spray covering more than 35 countries, including Europe and the UK, and has made the product available in pharmacies, retail outlets and online in certain markets.