Echinaforce COVID-19 Shedding Study

Respiratory viruses pose a permanent threat to humans and society as demonstrated by the current Covid-19 pandemic. Novel drugs and vaccines provide a means for controlling illness. Infections and symptomatic presentation of illness may be reduced, but it remains to be determined to which extent viral shedding and transmission (e.g. by silent transmitters) can be controlled. Lack of such activity may result in continuing viral spread by assumed healthy but asymptomatic spreaders. Echinacea is an established and readily-accessible product with demonstrated in vitro antiviral activity (including coronaviruses). This study aims to estimate the potential of different Echinacea formulations (head-to-head) to reduce concentration infectivity and shedding of SARS-CoV-2 under in vivo conditions.