ARMS-I A Novel Antiviral With Dual-Action Mechanism Against Influenza

Background: Viral upper respiratory tract infections are responsible for complications of substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide costing over $100 billion each year. Available treatment and prevention strategies such as using vaccines have multiple shortcomings, which create a growing need for developing new drugs that target a wider spectrum of viruses. Purpose/ Hypothesis: ARMS-I, a first-in-class oral topical drug spray formulation, is designed to disrupt infections through a dual mechanism of direct virucidal activity and barrier formation preventing viral contact, binding, and invasion into the host mucosal tissues. Methods: The antiviral activity and barrier components (via glycerin, and xanthan gum) of ARMS-I were tested separately using RSV (in A549 cells) and Influenza A/B (in MDCK cells). For each concentration of virus tested, a different concentration of ARMS-I was evaluated. Transmission Election Microscopy (TEM) was used to determine the effect that ARMS-I had on viral ultrastructures. Results: Virus treated with as little as 1.5% ARMS-I had a 2 log reduction in the viral titer compared to control treatments. The barrier treatments that contained >25% of ARMS-I barrier components showed a >2 log decrease in the viral titer by the TCID50 compared to control treatments. There was no damage to the cells (cytopathic activity) and no presence of the virus by immunofluorescence staining and cell viability. Results from the TEM examination revealed ARMS-I disrupted the viral envelope and its morphology. Conclusions: The data collected shows that ARMS-I is a novel class of drug that is virucidal and has barrier activity against viruses responsible for upper respiratory tract infections.