Direct virucidal effect of a throat lozenge with fixed combination of cetylpyridinium chloride and benzydamine hydrochloride on SARS-CoV-2 – in vitro study

Objectives. To evaluate the in vitro virucidal effect of the combination of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and benzydamine hydrochloride (BH) as a throat lozenge against the novel SARS-CoV-2. Material and methods. The study evaluated the viral presence and titre in cell cultures by using SARS-CoV-2 virus incubated for 1, 5, 15 minutes, with three different concentrations of three different active substances (CPC, free BH/ CPC, BH/CPC lozenge). The titre of the virus was expressed as TCID50/ml calculated with the Spearman-Kärber method. Outcomes. The faster virucidal effect in high concentration was seen in the combination BH/CPC as throat lozenge when compared to CPC as free active substance. A reduction of the virus concentration was seen, at 15 minutes contact, in all three concentrations. Conclusions. There is a strong virucidal effect a throat lozenge with fixed combination of cetylpyridinium chloride and benzydamine hydrochloride on the novel coronavirus.