Tel Aviv based Novel Concepts Medical has announced the successful testing of its plant-based formulations for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic.

The testing methodology was devised by Dr. Rachel Alkalay, PhD based in Tel Aviv, who is the inventor of these formulations.

The testing, led by Tracey Campbell, PhD, was carried out by the Centre for Microbial Chemical Biology at the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada.

The first test demonstrated the ability to disrupt the SARS-CoV-2 spike-ACE2 receptor interaction, which is a therapeutic target for COVID-19. Disruption of this interaction will prevent viral entry into cells.

The second test demonstrated the ability to disrupt the TMPRSS2, which represents an additional therapeutic target for Covid-19.

The third test demonstrated anti-viral activity in cell culture.

The testing program concluded: "The NCM formulations act on multiple targets required for SARS CoV-2 infection. This has been demonstrated by in vitro enzyme testing and cell culture assays with a surrogate human coronavirus. This data suggests that these formulations are potential candidates for treatment of SARS CoV-2 infections."

Dr. Alkalay said that her invention is unique because it is the first in the world to decompose the attachment of sugar residues to proteins in the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoproteins, which play essential roles in the virus attachment, fusion, and entry into the host cells. Therefore, it may very potentially stop Omicron and other mutations.

The company is now ready to offer clinical testing anywhere in the world after early case studies conducted in Israel have demonstrated recovery within 48 hours. Specifically, all volunteers with positive PCR tests had negative PCR tests within 48 hours of taking NCM’s formulations, with no side effects. These case studies also demonstrated significant improvement of numerous Long Covid-19 symptoms, including fatigue, headaches, loss of taste and smell, fever, throat ache, and memory loss.