1 / 10With coronavirus cases around the world now at almost 5.5 million, scientists have been working around the clock to develop a treatment.2 / 10Now, scientists have developed an inhaler that could fight the killer bug at the first sign of symptoms. Synairgen, a Southampton-based drug development company, has started testing its SNG001 inhaler in COVID-19 patients.3 / 10The trial, called the SG016 trial, includes 220 patients, who will be given the inhaler within three days of their symptoms appearing.4 / 10Richard Marsden, CEO of Synairgen, said: “We are really pleased to be able to expand the SG016 trial to patients in the home environment which enables us to test the drug much earlier in the course of the illness.5 / 10“If successful, we would hope to protect the lungs and prevent the development of the severe lower respiratory tract illness which puts the healthcare system under such strain.6 / 10“We have also been pleased with the progress of the SG016 trial in the hospital environment, having dosed 98 of 100 patients, and look forward to announcing top line data in July.”7 / 10The inhaler delivers a naturally occurring protein called interferon beta (IFN-beta) directly into the lungs.8 / 10IFN-beta orchestrates the body’s antiviral responses, reducing cell damage and preventing the virus from replicating.9 / 10Synairgen explained: “SNG001 could prove to have an important role to play in outbreaks such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in respect of the population at highest risk of being severely affected by this and similar viruses.”10 / 10Professor Nick Francis, Professor of General Practice at the University of Southampton, said: “This novel trial approach is essential for the ongoing health of those at higher risk because of increasing age or other risk factors. “The approach could be rolled out across many areas of primary care involving the interaction with vulnerable patients, including the elderly, if it is successful. “We are in desperate need of a treatment for COVID-19 that can be given to patients early in the course of the illness in order to prevent progression to severe symptoms.”