| Cancer patients, who have weakened immune systems, are twice as likely to die from Covid-19 as the general population. Now a study has found that a daily nasal spray may be of help to reduce their risks. According to a new study by Australian researchers, a daily nasal spray of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) — a naturally occurring protein that boosts the body’s antiviral defenses — could reduce Covid infections by 40% among cancer patients. The researchers enrolled over 400 adult cancer patients and split them into two groups. One group received a daily IFN-α nasal spray and another a saline placebo. The experiment continued for three months and found that while only about 8% of those who received the nasal spray developed Covid-19, over 14% in the placebo group did. Further analysis also shows that the spray, which can be bought for about $20 a bottle and is noninvasive, was even more effective to patients under 65, women and those who had received a Covid vaccine. There was no obvious difference across various cancer types, which suggests the spray could be broadly applicable. Michelle Yong, the leading author and specialist in infectious diseases at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Australia, said the results mark a shift in thinking about Covid prevention in immunocompromised patients. “Even with vaccination, cancer patients remain more vulnerable to Covid-19 and its complications,” Yong said in a statement. “It’s an additional layer of defense, especially for those who can’t mount strong responses to vaccines.” Researchers believe the nasal spray can be particularly valuable during high-risk periods, such as after surgery or during chemotherapy, when infection can be fatal to the patients. “While it’s not a replacement for vaccination, it adds to our prevention toolkit and could help reduce illness, treatment delays, and hospitalizations,” said Monica Slavin, a coauthor of the study and head of infectious diseases at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. — Karoline Kan | 
