Background Current prevention options for upper respiratory infections (URIs) are not optimal. We conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ARMS-I™ (currently marketed as Halo™) in the prevention of URIs. Methods ARMS-I is patented novel formulation for the prevention and treatment of influenza, comprising a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent (cetylpyridinium chloride, CPC) and components (glycerin and xanthan gum) that form a barrier on the host mucosa, thus preventing viral contact and invasion. Healthy adults (18–45 years of age) were randomized into ARMS-I or placebo group (50 subjects each). The drug was sprayed intra-orally (3× daily) for 75 days. The primary objectives were to establish whether ARMS-I decreased the frequency, severity or duration of URIs. Secondary objectives were to evaluate safety, tolerability, rate of virus detection, acceptability and adherence; effect on URI-associated absenteeism and medical visits; and effect of prior influenza vaccination on study outcomes. Results Of the 94 individuals who completed the study (placebo: n = 44, ARMS-I: n = 50), six presented with confirmed URI (placebo: 4, ARMS-I: 2), representing a 55% relative reduction, albeit this was statistically not significant). Influenza, coronavirus or rhinovirus were detected in three participants; all in the placebo group. Moreover, frequency of post-treatment exit visits was reduced by 55% in ARMS-I compared to the placebo group ( N = 4 and 2, respectively). Fever was reported only in the placebo group. ARMS-I significantly reduced the frequency and severity of cough and sore throat, and duration of cough ( P ≤ .019 for all comparisons). ARMS-I was safe, well tolerated, had high acceptability and high adherence to medication use. Medical visits occurred only in the placebo group while absenteeism did not differ between the two arms. Prior influenza vaccination had no effect on study outcome. Conclusions This randomized proof-of-concept clinical trial demonstrated that ARMS-I tended to provide protection against URIs in the enrolled study participants, while reducing severity and duration of cough and sore throat. A clinical trial with a larger number of study participants is warranted. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02644135 (retrospectively registered). Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12879-016-2177-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
【저자키워드】 Antiviral, Prophylaxis, cetylpyridinium chloride, Glycerin, Xanthan gum, Barrier formation, 【초록키워드】 Efficacy, coronavirus, vaccination, clinical trial, Influenza, severity, outcome, cough, Randomized, rhinovirus, virus detection, age, medication, placebo-controlled, Frequency, Contact, Invasion, Safe, mucosa, reduction, sore throat, ARMS, Tolerability, not significant, supplementary material, placebo group, double-blinded, subject, individual, upper respiratory infection, Comparisons, Study participants, Registered, component, study outcomes, Host, current, antimicrobial agent, pilot clinical trial, Result, enrolled, not differ, evaluate, occurred, significantly, reported, conducted, reduced, reducing, demonstrated, representing, had no, was reduced, statistically, study participant, proof-of-concept clinical trial, Secondary objective, the placebo group, treatment of influenza, 【제목키워드】 Effectiveness, double-blind, upper respiratory infection, placebo-controlled clinical trial,