An over-the-counter nasal spray widely used to treat seasonal allergies could help prevent COVID-19 infections, according to results from a clinical trial released Tuesday.

The antihistamine azelastine, available in spray form, has shown antiviral activity in a growing number of studies against several respiratory viruses, including influenza, RSV, and the virus that causes COVID-19, reports NBC News.

German researchers at Saarland University Hospital enrolled 450 adults, mostly in their early 30s, to test azelastine’s effectiveness. One group of 227 participants received a puff of the nasal spray in each nostril three times a day, while the other 223 used a placebo spray.

Read more at Newsmax© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.