On Oct. 14, 2020, Novan announced positive in vitro results showing the potential efficacy of its NITRICILﾙ platform technology as an antiviral against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. To evaluate the ability of its NITRICILﾙ platform technology as a potential nasal treatment option for COVID-19, the Company initiated in vitro assessments targeting the reduction of viral burden in differentiated normal human bronchial epithelial cells.

The studies were conducted at the Institute for Antiviral Research at Utah State University and these results demonstrated the first instance of an antiviral effect from a nitric oxide-based medicine in a 3-D tissue model that has similar structure to the human airway epithelium.