VIRALEZE™ is a nasal spray designed to provide a protective moisture barrier that traps and blocks common viruses in the nose in situations where individuals may be most at risk of developing a respiratory infection.

The formulation contains the key functional ingredient, astodrimer sodium, and other ingredients, including purified water, a viscosity-modifying mucoadhesive substance intended to help retention of the product in the nasal cavity, and a small amount of preservative. The ingredients are included in the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) generally recognised as safe (GRAS) substances (SCOGS) Database and Inactive Ingredient Database. Click here for the complete list of ingredients.

VIRALEZE™ creates a mucoadhesive moisture barrier in your nose, where viruses first attach and start to multiply. This barrier, combined with astodrimer sodium, physically traps and blocks viruses from reaching the mucosal cells in your nose, leading to a reduction in viral load and increased virus clearance.

Always follow your local health and medical advice to ensure the best possible protection against respiratory viruses. This may include vaccination, personal protective equipment (PPE), and good hygiene practices. Seek medical advice if you can't manage your symptoms at home or if they get worse.

VIRALEZE™ has been tested in laboratory studies for its effectiveness against a broad spectrum of common respiratory viruses.

Astodrimer sodium in VIRALEZE™ has been shown to trap and block a broad spectrum of respiratory viruses in laboratory studies, including SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus that causes COVID-19), MERS-CoV (the coronavirus that causes MERS), SARS-CoV (the coronavirus that causes SARS), H1N1 (the influenza virus that caused Swine Flu), H3N2 (the influenza virus that caused Avian Flu), and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).

VIRALEZE™ has undergone a clinical trial in the UK with patients diagnosed with COVID-19. The results indicated that VIRALEZE™ significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 viral load in patients aged 45 years and older compared with a placebo nasal spray. VIRALEZE™ was also shown to increase the rate of COVID-19 viral clearance and helped alleviate some COVID-19 symptoms, especially loss of smell. Although the reduction in viral load was also observed in individuals aged 16 to 45, it was not statistically significant when compared to the placebo.

VIRALEZE™ contains astodrimer sodium, a patented ingredient proven in laboratory studies to trap and block cold and respiratory viruses. The formulation provides a protective moisture barrier in the nose, helping to reduce viral adhesion, multiplication, and spread, allowing your body’s natural defences to remove the viruses.

Astodrimer sodium is a large molecule with multiple negative surface charges. These negative charges serve as sites of engagement with positively charged regions of viral spike proteins and other viral attachment proteins. The electrostatic interaction between astodrimer sodium and the viral attachment proteins is strong due to the polyvalent structure of astodrimer sodium, and is not specific, leading to the ability to block a broad spectrum of respiratory viruses.

VIRALEZE™ can be used up to four times daily. One application is expected to last approximately four hours based on mucociliary clearance time.

Mucociliary clearance is the body’s way of cleaning the airways, which use mucus and tiny hair-like structures in the nose called cilia. Mucus traps dirt, germs, and other particles we breathe in, and the cilia push this mucus up toward the throat, where it can be coughed out or swallowed. This process helps keep our lungs and airways clear, protecting us from infections and pollutants.

Astodrimer sodium is not absorbed into the bloodstream (Castellarnau et al., 2022). 

Castellarnau, A., Heery, G.P., Seta, A., Luscombe, C.A., Kinghorn, G.R., Button, P., McCloud, P., Paull, J.R.A., 2022. Astodrimer sodium antiviral nasal spray for reducing respiratory infections is safe and well tolerated in a randomized controlled trial. Sci Rep. 12(1), 10210. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14601-3 

To ensure the action of VIRALEZE™ is not affected, we recommend that VIRALEZE™ not be applied immediately before or after other nasal products. If you intend to use VIRALEZE™ with other nasal spray products, we recommend allowing 3-4 hours after applying VIRALEZE™ before applying another product to ensure the barrier function of VIRALEZE™ is not compromised. Consult your healthcare provider for advice if you are using other nasal treatments.

VIRALEZE™ can be used by adults and children aged 12 years and over.

Some users may experience mild effects such as a stuffy nose or a transient tingling sensation in the nose following application. These effects are expected and not of concern. If you experience severe discomfort, stop use and consult your healthcare provider.

To use VIRALEZE™, gently blow your nose to clear your nasal passages, wash your hands, and remove the bottle’s protective cap. 

If necessary, prime the bottle by spraying VIRALEZE™ one or more times into the air or a tissue until a fine mist is dispensed.

Close one nostril by pressing on that side of your nose, and gently insert the nozzle into the other nostril, pointing it away from the centre of your nose. Press down on the pump to activate the spray while gently breathing in (normal breathing). You don’t need to take a deep breath when applying the nasal spray. 

Repeat for the other nostril.

VIRALEZE™ can be used before or after being in crowded environments to help reduce viral load in the nasal cavity.

Yes, VIRALEZE™ can be applied up to 4 times a day as needed, especially in environments where you may be exposed to viruses, such as dry climates, indoor heated/air-conditioned spaces, hospitals, aged care, public transport, and during air travel.

Yes, it is recommended to blow your nose with a tissue before applying VIRALEZE™. 

VIRALEZE™ should be stored in a cool, dry place below 30°C, not in the refrigerator or freezer.

No, VIRALEZE™ does not need to be refrigerated.

Consult your healthcare provider before using VIRALEZE™ if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or to breastfeed.

VIRALEZE™ is suitable for use by children over the age of 12 years. Always follow the instructions for use and consult a healthcare provider if you have any concerns.

Do not use the product if you have a history of sensitivity to any ingredient in the formulation. If you experience an allergic reaction or severe discomfort, stop using the product and consult your healthcare provider immediately.

Any serious incident that has occurred in relation to VIRALEZE™ should be reported to the UK or EC Representative, or Starpharma.

Consult your healthcare provider before using VIRALEZE™ if you have an existing medical condition that may interact with the product.

There are no known conditions or medications that might interact with VIRALEZE™. Do not use the product if you have a history of sensitivity to any ingredient in the formulation. If you experience an allergic reaction or severe discomfort after use, stop using the product, consult your healthcare provider immediately and contact Starpharma or the local representative listed on the pack.

VIRALEZE™ can be used up to four times daily. Stop using the product if you notice you have exceeded the recommended usage.

VIRALEZE™ is regulated as a medical device and does not contain any medicinal substances (drugs). Astodrimer sodium is not absorbed into the bloodstream. VIRALEZE™ does not contain alcohol. VIRALEZE™ does not contain products of animal origin.

The protective moisture barrier provided by VIRALEZE™ is established upon application and when virus comes in contact with the barrier.

VIRALEZE™ is designed to help trap and block viral particles in the nasal cavity before they can spread and cause infection. VIRALEZE™ has been shown to reduce viral load in the nose; however, VIRALEZE™ may not completely prevent respiratory infection.

The main ingredient in VIRALEZE™, astodrimer sodium, has been tested against other nasal sprays that contain other ingredients, including carrageenan.

Despite some structural differences, the performance of astodrimer sodium at trapping and blocking viruses is expected to be superior to carrageenan given that astodrimer sodium has longer molecular chains than carrageenan, and the length of the chains positively impacts the ability of the molecule to trap and block viruses (Cagno et al., 2018).

In one laboratory study, astodrimer sodium was shown to be more effective than carrageenan at blocking SARS-CoV-2 infection (Paull et al., 2021).

The following scientific research on VIRALEZE™ has been peer-reviewed and published in scientific journals.

• Castellarnau, A., Heery, G.P., Seta, A., Luscombe, C.A., Kinghorn, G.R., Button, P., McCloud, P., Paull, J.R.A., 2022. Astodrimer sodium antiviral nasal spray for reducing respiratory infections is safe and well tolerated in a randomized controlled trial. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 10210. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14601-3
• Winchester, S., Castellarnau, A., Jabbar, K., Nadir, M., Ranasinghe, K., Masramon, X., Kinghorn, G.R., John, I., Paull, J.R.A., 2024. Astodrimer Sodium Nasal Spray versus Placebo in Non-Hospitalised Patients with COVID-19: A Randomised, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Pharmaceutics, 16(9):1173, https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16091173.
• Paull J.R.A., Luscombe, C.A., Castellarnau, A., Heery, G.P., Bobardt, M.D., Gallay, P.A., 2021. Protective effects of astodrimer sodium 1% nasal spray formulation against SARS-CoV-2 nasal challenge in K18-hACE2 mice. Viruses, 13(8), 1656. https://doi.org/10.3390/v13081656
• Paull, J.R.A., Heery, G.P., Bobardt, M.D., Castellarnau, A., Luscombe, C.A., Fairley, J.K., Gallay, P.A., 2021. Virucidal and antiviral activity of astodrimer sodium against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Antiviral Research, 191, 105089. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2021.105089
• Paull, J.R.A., Luscombe, C.A.,  Seta, A., Heery, G.P., Bobardt, M.D., Gallay, P.A., Constant, S., Castellarnau, A., 2024. Astodrimer sodium nasal spray forms a barrier to SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and preserves normal mucociliary function in human nasal epithelium. Scientific Reports, 14, 21259. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-72262-w

Each bottle of VIRALEZE™ contains 10mL, which is approximately 80 sprays.

We ship orders to select countries worldwide. If your country is listed when placing your order, we expect we can deliver to your country. All deliveries are tracked using our preferred shipping partner. Orders are typically processed within 1 business day, excluding weekends and public holidays. You will receive a dispatch confirmation email with a tracking reference.

No, we do not deliver to PO Boxes. We can only deliver to physical delivery addresses.

Estimated delivery times for select European Economic Area (EEA) countries:

• Germany and Netherlands: 1-3 days
• Belgium, Luxembourg and Ireland: 2-5 days
• Sweden: 3-6 days
• Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania: 3-6 days
• Spain and Portugal: 3-7 days
• Denmark, Norway and Estonia: 3-7 days

The estimated delivery time for select countries outside the EEA is 5 to 15 days, depending on the location of your delivery address.

Yes. Upon shipment, all orders will receive a confirmation email with a tracking link to track the timing and delivery of your order.

If you believe your order is delayed, please email our support team at hello@viraleze.co.

Please let us know immediately if you have received a damaged or defective product by emailing hello@viraleze.co. You can request a replacement or a full refund. See the Returns Policy for more information.

Please email us at hello@viraleze.co.

Sure! Visit www.starpharma.com to learn more about Starpharma and the company’s mission of helping patients with serious illnesses achieve improved health outcomes and quality of life through the application of its unique dendrimer technology.

To support potential fluctuations in temperature during shipping and storage, we have conducted several stability studies at conditions ranging from frozen to 40°C. These studies concluded that such fluctuations have no impact on the quality/effectiveness of the nasal spray formulation.

You can use an open or closed bottle of VIRALEZE™ until its use-by date, i.e., until the end of the month shown on the label/carton.