Oxford study points to challenges ahead for nasal spray vaccines

Results from early stage  research into AstraZeneca’s (LSE: AZN) coronavirus vaccine has poured cold water onto hopes that a nasally-administered form of the jab could be developed soon.

The Phase I study, conducted by researchers at Oxford University in collaboration with the British pharma major, used the same ChAdOx1 adenovirus vector-based vaccine which is marketed as Vaxzevria in its injectable form.

The results show mucosal antibody responses “in a minority of participants,” with systemic immune responses which were “weaker compared with intramuscular vaccination.”