CONTAIN

Azelastine nasal spray for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infections

CONTAIN was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial at Saarland University and Saarland University Medical Center. 450 healthy adults used a nasal spray containing azelastine (227 participants) or placebo (223) three times daily for 56 days.

Results

PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections occurred in 2.2 % of participants on azelastine and in 6.7 % on placebo. Rhinovirus infections were also less frequent with azelastine (1.8 % vs. 6.3 %).

Partners

Clinical Pharmacy (Prof. Dr. Thorsten Lehr, Dr. Dominik Selzer), Department of Internal Medicine V (Prof. Dr. Dr. Robert Bals), Institute of Virology (Prof. Dr. Sigrun Smola). Sponsor: URSAPHARM Arzneimittel GmbH. EudraCT 2022-003756-13.

Publications

• Lehr T, Meiser P, Selzer D, … Smola S, Bals R. Azelastine nasal spray for prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infections: A phase 2 randomized clinical trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2025;185(11):1309-1317. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2025.4283

Conference contributions

• Lehr T, Meiser P, Selzer D, … Smola S, Bals R. Azelastin-Nasenspray zur Prävention von SARS-CoV-2-Infektionen: Ergebnisse der Phase-2-Studie CONTAIN (in German). 66th Congress of the German Respiratory Society (DGP), Munich 2026. Pneumologie. 2026;80. doi:10.1055/s-0046-1816361