A nasal spray that could potentially prevent childhood ear infections and reduce antibiotic use is a step closer to clinical trials, thanks to a $500,000 grant.
Developed by researchers at the Telethon Kids Institute and the University of Western Australia, the Spritz-OM nasal spray guards the ear from infection using ‘friendly bacteria’ and aims to reduce the incidence of middle ear infection, or otitis media, in young children.
Associate Professor Lea-Ann Kirkham, who is scientific lead and Spritz-OM inventor, as well as Co-Head of the Bacterial Respiratory Infectious Disease Group at TKI’s Wesfarmers Centre for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, said more than 700 million children worldwide suffered an ear infection every year, with one in four experiencing recurrent infections requiring antibiotics.
“For Aboriginal children, this figure increases to one in two children,” Professor Kirkham said. “This funding will springboard Spritz-OM toward clinical trials to assess the nasal spray’s safety and efficacy for preventing childhood ear infections.”
If successful, Spritz-OM could reduce antibiotic dependence and prevent severe ear infections that can lead to hearing loss.
The grant has been made possible by CUREator, a national biotechnology incubator run by Brandon BioCatalyst to support the development of Australia’s biomedical and research innovations.
Funded by the Medical Research Future Fund and Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, CUREator provides grant funding programs for opportunities spanning from discovery to clinical development.
It was one of five grants awarded as part of the Minimising Antimicrobial Resistance stream of funding to target the growing threat of AMR, which the WHO has identified as one of the biggest threats to global health — by 2050 it will be the world’s leading cause of death.
Professor Kirkham said that globally otitis media was the main reason children were prescribed antibiotics and underwent surgery. Treatment costs $500 million every year in Australia and US$5 billion in the US.
“Otitis media prevention would mean fewer GP visits, fewer antibiotics, and fewer surgeries, allowing redirection of healthcare resources and reduce antimicrobial resistance pressure,” she said.
“Socioeconomic value from otitis media prevention includes reduced absenteeism, improved hearing and educational outcomes, mitigation of health inequity, and enhanced wellbeing.”