New antiviral and antibacterial active ingredient against sore throats

15.02.2022 10:39

In a complex biotechnological process, Belano medical AG has identified and made usable a natural active ingredient against another harmful bacterium. Specifically, it is about the streptococcal bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes, which causes the majority of all bacterial sore throats and throat infections and is considered a trigger for scarlet fever.

It is estimated that more than 600 million people worldwide suffer from infections of the throat or throat (pharyngitis) caused by S. pyogenes each year. In addition, there are at least 517,000 deaths every year due to invasive infections and their complications.

“The special thing about this microbial active ingredient is that it can be both antibacterial and antiviral, i.e. effective against certain cold viruses,” emphasizes Prof. Dr. Christine Lang, Head of Research and Development at Belano medical AG.

Antiviral effect proven by study

The new active ingredient is based on a strain of lactic acid bacteria called Lactobacillus crispatus DSM25988. Scientists at Belano medical have identified the strain as optimally effective from several hundred lactic acid bacterial strains using a patented laboratory process. The lactic acid bacterium prevents S. pyogenes from attaching to human mucosal cells or epithelial cells. To do this, it binds to the pathogenic germ and masks its surface.

The antiviral effect of Lactobacillus crispatus DSM25988 was demonstrated using an in-vitro cell model. Here, using the example of SARS-CoV2 proteins (Covid or Corona Spike proteins), it was shown that L. crispatus successfully excludes infection of epithelial cells by viruses.

The lactobacillus strain was incorporated into a throat lozenge as a medical product, which is sold on the market under the name salvans®. The Salvans lozenges were successfully tested in a clinical study with 44 participants who suffered from sore throat for up to 14 days. “We were able to find that classic symptoms of a sore throat such as hoarseness, difficulty swallowing or a scratchy throat were noticeably reduced,” says Christine Lang.

The entire study and the details of how the in vitro and in vivo tests were carried out were reviewed by the scientific journal “Beneficial Microbes” and published in February https://doi.org/10.3920/BM2021.0103 published.