Methods for inhibiting respiratory viral infections

Abstract

Methods for inhibiting respiratory viral infections in a human subject that include contacting nasal cavity epithelial tissue of the human subject with a composition that includes one or more carrageenan polysaccharides, one or more polyols, and an aqueous solvent. Preferably, at least 80% by weight of the carrageenan saccharides in the composition are lambda carrageenan, and a majority of the carrageenan polysaccharides within the composition are present as free molecules within the aqueous solvent. The composition is contacted with the nasal cavity epithelial tissue of the human subject via transfer from the human subject's finger or an applicator such as a swab. The volume of the composition that contacts the nasal cavity epithelial tissue of the human subject is between 0.1 mL and 5 mL. The composition preferably has a pH of about 6.5+/−0.25 when it contacts the nasal cavity epithelial tissue of the human subject.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.