Novaferon Effectively Inhibits Ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron Variant in Vitro, 2022

INTRODUCTION: To identify Novaferon (Nova), a novel recombinant protein of interferon (IFN)-α, antiviral activity against ancestral severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Omicron variant in vitro. METHODS: Vero cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron variant in a biosafety level-3 laboratory. And viral replications were accessed using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Results demonstrated that Nova has effective inhibition against ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron variant in vitro. DISCUSSION: The in vivo effects of Nova need to be further tested in animal models. And large-scale randomized double-blind clinical trials are needed to reveal its potentially clinical application.