Interferon-α Nasal Spray Prophylaxis Reduces COVID-19 in Cancer Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial
A daily nasal spray of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) could reduce infection risk.
academic.oup.com/cid...
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A daily nasal spray of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) could reduce infection risk.
academic.oup.com/cid...
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August 30, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Interferon-α Nasal Spray Prophylaxis Reduces COVID-19 in Cancer Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial
A daily nasal spray of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) could reduce infection risk.
academic.oup.com/cid...
1/4
A daily nasal spray of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) could reduce infection risk.
academic.oup.com/cid...
1/4
Australian-led trial shows nasal spray reduces COVID-19 risk in cancer patients.
"The research... showed that a nasal spray containing interferon-alpha (IFN-α), a naturally occurring protein with broad antiviral activity, could reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection by 40% compared to placebo."
"The research... showed that a nasal spray containing interferon-alpha (IFN-α), a naturally occurring protein with broad antiviral activity, could reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection by 40% compared to placebo."
Australian-led trial shows nasal spray reduces COVID-19 risk in cancer patients - Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
www.petermac.org
August 30, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Australian-led trial shows nasal spray reduces COVID-19 risk in cancer patients.
"The research... showed that a nasal spray containing interferon-alpha (IFN-α), a naturally occurring protein with broad antiviral activity, could reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection by 40% compared to placebo."
"The research... showed that a nasal spray containing interferon-alpha (IFN-α), a naturally occurring protein with broad antiviral activity, could reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection by 40% compared to placebo."
Read more about how #interferon-alpha interferes with clonal evolution in human blood #stemcells in a new Nature Genetics article by Dr. Anna Nam and colleagues.
#Pathology #PathX #PathTwitter
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#Pathology #PathX #PathTwitter
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Type 1 interferon perturbates clonal competition by reshaping human blood development - Nature Genetics
Single-cell multiomics of blood stem cells from patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms revealed that interferon-α normalizes blood counts by augmenting lymphoid differentiation and modulates clona...
www.nature.com
September 21, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Read more about how #interferon-alpha interferes with clonal evolution in human blood #stemcells in a new Nature Genetics article by Dr. Anna Nam and colleagues.
#Pathology #PathX #PathTwitter
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#Pathology #PathX #PathTwitter
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Trial data: Interferon-alpha nasal spray cuts #COVID infections in adult cancer patients by 40%
Spray recipients who were younger than 65 years, women, and vaccinated were at the lowest risk for infection.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/c...
Photo: NIAID / Flickr cc
Spray recipients who were younger than 65 years, women, and vaccinated were at the lowest risk for infection.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/c...
Photo: NIAID / Flickr cc
September 3, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Trial data: Interferon-alpha nasal spray cuts #COVID infections in adult cancer patients by 40%
Spray recipients who were younger than 65 years, women, and vaccinated were at the lowest risk for infection.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/c...
Photo: NIAID / Flickr cc
Spray recipients who were younger than 65 years, women, and vaccinated were at the lowest risk for infection.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/c...
Photo: NIAID / Flickr cc
Still buzzing about this discovery: an inflammatory molecule called interferon alpha can cause Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease. About 60% of patients have it. A new blood test could find this 'fingerprint' over 10 years before symptoms.
New Discovery Links Interferon Alpha to Sjögren's Syndrome and Enables Early Detection
Researchers from the University Hospital Bonn, along with universities in Edinburgh and Newcastle, have discovered that the inflammatory mediator interferon alpha can cause Sjögren's syndrome, an auto
www.the-independent.com
July 21, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Still buzzing about this discovery: an inflammatory molecule called interferon alpha can cause Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease. About 60% of patients have it. A new blood test could find this 'fingerprint' over 10 years before symptoms.
New data: Interferon-alpha nasal spray cuts COVID infections in adult cancer patients by 40%
www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/new...
www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/new...
New data: Interferon-alpha nasal spray cuts COVID infections in adult cancer patients by 40%
Spray recipients who were younger than 65 years, women, and vaccinated were at the lowest risk for infection.
www.cidrap.umn.edu
September 4, 2025 at 7:24 PM
New data: Interferon-alpha nasal spray cuts COVID infections in adult cancer patients by 40%
www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/new...
www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/new...
Your immune system remembers skin inflammation long after it resolves because of #interferon alpha!
Check out our new paper describing these findings just published at
@jimmunol.bsky.social 👇👇👇
It was amazing working on this with my role model @drshrutinaik.bsky.social
Check out our new paper describing these findings just published at
@jimmunol.bsky.social 👇👇👇
It was amazing working on this with my role model @drshrutinaik.bsky.social
Interferon-sensitized hematopoietic progenitors dynamically alter organismal immunity
Abstract. Inflammation has enduring impacts on organismal immunity. However, the precise mechanisms by which tissue-restricted inflammation conditions syst
academic.oup.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Your immune system remembers skin inflammation long after it resolves because of #interferon alpha!
Check out our new paper describing these findings just published at
@jimmunol.bsky.social 👇👇👇
It was amazing working on this with my role model @drshrutinaik.bsky.social
Check out our new paper describing these findings just published at
@jimmunol.bsky.social 👇👇👇
It was amazing working on this with my role model @drshrutinaik.bsky.social
I guess this supports the idea for a renaissance of interferon alpha in cancer therapy in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. This Spiegel cover (1980) sparked my interest in medicine and immunology. Interferon alpha was one of the first effective treatments for hairy cell leukemia.
October 25, 2025 at 8:05 PM
I guess this supports the idea for a renaissance of interferon alpha in cancer therapy in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. This Spiegel cover (1980) sparked my interest in medicine and immunology. Interferon alpha was one of the first effective treatments for hairy cell leukemia.
Nasal Spray Prophylaxis Reduces COVID-19 in Cancer Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciaf409/8241089?login=false
More news → CanadaHealthwatch.ca 🍁
More news → CanadaHealthwatch.ca 🍁
August 30, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Nasal Spray Prophylaxis Reduces COVID-19 in Cancer Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciaf409/8241089?login=false
More news → CanadaHealthwatch.ca 🍁
More news → CanadaHealthwatch.ca 🍁
“According to a new study by Australian researchers, a daily nasal spray of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) — a naturally occurring protein that boosts the body’s antiviral defenses — could reduce Covid infections by 40% among cancer patients.”
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40874769/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40874769/
Interferon-α Nasal Spray Prophylaxis Reduces COVID-19 in Cancer Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial - PubMed
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04534725 (ANZCTR: ACTRN12620000843954).
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
September 16, 2025 at 7:21 PM
“According to a new study by Australian researchers, a daily nasal spray of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) — a naturally occurring protein that boosts the body’s antiviral defenses — could reduce Covid infections by 40% among cancer patients.”
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40874769/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40874769/
"Daily use of an interferon-alpha (IFN-α) nasal spray lowers the risk of #COVID infection in adults with #Cancer, a new randomized controlled trial finds":
(* As do #N95 masks worn by chemo nurses & patients. Just saying).
www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/new...
(* As do #N95 masks worn by chemo nurses & patients. Just saying).
www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/new...
New data: Interferon-alpha nasal spray cuts COVID infections in adult cancer patients by 40%
Spray recipients who were younger than 65 years, women, and vaccinated were at the lowest risk for infection.
www.cidrap.umn.edu
September 30, 2025 at 5:12 PM
"Daily use of an interferon-alpha (IFN-α) nasal spray lowers the risk of #COVID infection in adults with #Cancer, a new randomized controlled trial finds":
(* As do #N95 masks worn by chemo nurses & patients. Just saying).
www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/new...
(* As do #N95 masks worn by chemo nurses & patients. Just saying).
www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/new...
Interferon alpha-2b
There are two commercial versions of different (much higher) strengths from Cuban and Ukrainian pharmaceutical companies
There are two commercial versions of different (much higher) strengths from Cuban and Ukrainian pharmaceutical companies
August 30, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Interferon alpha-2b
There are two commercial versions of different (much higher) strengths from Cuban and Ukrainian pharmaceutical companies
There are two commercial versions of different (much higher) strengths from Cuban and Ukrainian pharmaceutical companies
air guitar, dunk on,
alpha interferon
jaw-dropping, comb over, over the top
HBCU, groupware
oat milk, dis, gazillionaire
fugly, yuppie, baby bump, high five, techno-pop
alpha interferon
jaw-dropping, comb over, over the top
HBCU, groupware
oat milk, dis, gazillionaire
fugly, yuppie, baby bump, high five, techno-pop
MW's Words First Used In Print in your birth year is your personal We Didn't Start The Fire:
commoditize compact disc
core inflation de-stress
closed-captioned
first world problem
female genital mutiliation
laser disc laser printer
hip-hop space elevator
...
www.merriam-webster.com/time-travele...
commoditize compact disc
core inflation de-stress
closed-captioned
first world problem
female genital mutiliation
laser disc laser printer
hip-hop space elevator
...
www.merriam-webster.com/time-travele...
Time Traveler by Merriam-Webster: Words from 1979
See which words were first recorded in 1979. Or search for other words by the year when they were first used.
www.merriam-webster.com
September 1, 2025 at 7:17 PM
air guitar, dunk on,
alpha interferon
jaw-dropping, comb over, over the top
HBCU, groupware
oat milk, dis, gazillionaire
fugly, yuppie, baby bump, high five, techno-pop
alpha interferon
jaw-dropping, comb over, over the top
HBCU, groupware
oat milk, dis, gazillionaire
fugly, yuppie, baby bump, high five, techno-pop
The research...showed a nasal spray containing interferon-alpha (IFN-α), a naturally occurring protein with broad antiviral activity, could reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection by 40% compared to placebo...the results mark a shift in thinking about COVID-19 prevention in immunocompromised patients.
This is an outstanding development.
Australian-led trial shows nasal spray reduces COVID-19 risk in cancer patients - Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
www.petermac.org
August 29, 2025 at 9:14 PM
The research...showed a nasal spray containing interferon-alpha (IFN-α), a naturally occurring protein with broad antiviral activity, could reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection by 40% compared to placebo...the results mark a shift in thinking about COVID-19 prevention in immunocompromised patients.
Enovid? Profi? Xlear? Betadine?
Do any of these nasal sprays have interferon-alpha (IFN-α)?
And most importantly, do any of them work?
Do any of these nasal sprays have interferon-alpha (IFN-α)?
And most importantly, do any of them work?
August 30, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Enovid? Profi? Xlear? Betadine?
Do any of these nasal sprays have interferon-alpha (IFN-α)?
And most importantly, do any of them work?
Do any of these nasal sprays have interferon-alpha (IFN-α)?
And most importantly, do any of them work?
2/
A daily nasal spray prophylaxis of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) reduced the incidence of COVID in adult cancer patients -
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40874769/
A daily nasal spray prophylaxis of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) reduced the incidence of COVID in adult cancer patients -
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40874769/
Interferon-α Nasal Spray Prophylaxis Reduces COVID-19 in Cancer Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial - PubMed
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04534725 (ANZCTR: ACTRN12620000843954).
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
August 30, 2025 at 4:16 PM
2/
A daily nasal spray prophylaxis of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) reduced the incidence of COVID in adult cancer patients -
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40874769/
A daily nasal spray prophylaxis of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) reduced the incidence of COVID in adult cancer patients -
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40874769/
SARS-CoV-2’s protein Nsp14 activates inflammatory pathways like NF-κB and MAPK, while suppressing interferon defenses (IFNAR1 and IFNGR1).
This dual action helps the virus evade immune responses and worsen inflammation.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
This dual action helps the virus evade immune responses and worsen inflammation.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
SARS-CoV-2 Nsp14 binds Tollip and activates pro-inflammatory pathways while downregulating interferon alpha and interferon gamma receptors
SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) non-structural protein 14 (Nsp14) possesses an N-terminal exonuclease (ExoN) domain that provides a proofreading function for the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and...
www.biorxiv.org
December 15, 2024 at 3:10 PM
SARS-CoV-2’s protein Nsp14 activates inflammatory pathways like NF-κB and MAPK, while suppressing interferon defenses (IFNAR1 and IFNGR1).
This dual action helps the virus evade immune responses and worsen inflammation.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
This dual action helps the virus evade immune responses and worsen inflammation.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Proud to share a new preprint from my lab that is the product of hard work from several talented lab members and collaboration with valued colleagues: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
IFN-α Induces Heterogenous ROS Production in Human β-Cells
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a multifactorial disease involving genetic and environmental factors, including viral infection. We investigated the impact of interferon alpha (IFN-α), a cytokine produced du...
www.biorxiv.org
February 21, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Proud to share a new preprint from my lab that is the product of hard work from several talented lab members and collaboration with valued colleagues: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
“We evaluated whether a daily nasal spray of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) would reduce the incidence of COVID-19 or community-acquired respiratory viral infections in adult cancer patients.
August 30, 2025 at 12:49 AM
“We evaluated whether a daily nasal spray of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) would reduce the incidence of COVID-19 or community-acquired respiratory viral infections in adult cancer patients.
Ferret nasal epithelium to aivan H1N1: 🔺 interferon alpha + gamma responses + IL-6 JAK-STAT signaling, 🔻 oxidative phosphorylation. Cellular genotoxic stress + NF-kB, interferon + cell fate pathways different to viruses with diff transmission pathways
👉 journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
👉 journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
October 14, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Ferret nasal epithelium to aivan H1N1: 🔺 interferon alpha + gamma responses + IL-6 JAK-STAT signaling, 🔻 oxidative phosphorylation. Cellular genotoxic stress + NF-kB, interferon + cell fate pathways different to viruses with diff transmission pathways
👉 journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
👉 journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Interferon alfa has effects on both innate and adaptive immunity and has antiviral effects mediated by induction of interferon-stimulated genes. 12/15
December 9, 2024 at 7:43 PM
Interferon alfa has effects on both innate and adaptive immunity and has antiviral effects mediated by induction of interferon-stimulated genes. 12/15
SARS-CoV-2 Nsp14 binds Tollip and activates pro-inflammatory pathways while downregulating interferon alpha and interferon gamma receptors https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.12.12.628214v1
December 14, 2024 at 9:17 AM
SARS-CoV-2 Nsp14 binds Tollip and activates pro-inflammatory pathways while downregulating interferon alpha and interferon gamma receptors https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.12.12.628214v1
2) The authors focus on the concept of sickness behavior: the symptoms people and animals experience when they have an infection.
In the 1980s, cytokines such as interferon-alpha were produced as a treatment and researchers discovered that these also caused sickness behavior.
In the 1980s, cytokines such as interferon-alpha were produced as a treatment and researchers discovered that these also caused sickness behavior.
August 3, 2025 at 11:35 AM
2) The authors focus on the concept of sickness behavior: the symptoms people and animals experience when they have an infection.
In the 1980s, cytokines such as interferon-alpha were produced as a treatment and researchers discovered that these also caused sickness behavior.
In the 1980s, cytokines such as interferon-alpha were produced as a treatment and researchers discovered that these also caused sickness behavior.
I'm looking forward to reading this exciting new paper on circRNAs and herpesvirus infection! Congrats
@sarahdremel.bsky.social!
@sarahdremel.bsky.social!
Interferon induced circRNAs escape herpesvirus host shutoff and suppress lytic infection - PubMed
To globally profile circRNAs, we employ RNA-Sequencing paired with chimeric junction analysis for alpha-, beta-, and gamma-herpesvirus infection. We find circRNAs are, as a population, resistant to ho...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
January 27, 2024 at 4:13 PM
I'm looking forward to reading this exciting new paper on circRNAs and herpesvirus infection! Congrats
@sarahdremel.bsky.social!
@sarahdremel.bsky.social!