ARMS-I

ARMS-I is a lead drug candidate developed by ARMS Pharmaceutical for the prevention of various upper respiratory infectious diseases, including influenza, COVID-19, rhinovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). It is a single-stream oral spray designed for topical application to the oropharyngeal mucosal surfaces. ARMS-I employs a dual mechanism of action: it forms a microbe-impermeable physical barrier on the host mucosa using glycerin and xanthan gum to prevent viral contact and invasion, and it utilizes cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent, to exert direct virucidal activity by disrupting the viral lipid membrane. This physicochemical approach targets the host-derived lipid membrane rather than specific viral proteins, making the drug's efficacy less susceptible to viral mutations or antigenic drift. Currently marketed as Halo™, ARMS-I is undergoing clinical evaluation with an FDA-accepted IND for a pharmacokinetic trial in influenza.

Brand names

Halo