Preclinical Study Highlights Potential of Human Breast Milk-Derived Nasal Antibody Treatment Against Respiratory Viruses

A peer-reviewed preclinical study published in Science Advances details findings on LCTG-001, an investigational nasal antibody treatment developed by Lactiga US, Inc. using secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) purified from donated human breast milk. Scientists at McMaster University collaborated on the research, which evaluated the treatment's efficacy in animal models against influenza and other respiratory viruses.

Readers can verify the original announcement and review the published study in Science Advances, released in October 2026. Because this research remains preclinical, no human clinical trial results are currently established, and LCTG-001 is advancing toward future first-in-human clinical evaluations.

Key Study Findings and Survival Rates

• Influenza Protection: In testing involving antibody-deficient mice, all five subjects treated with LCTG-001 survived influenza exposure, compared to two out of five in the control group.
• Reduced Severity: Treated mice experienced less weight loss, with peak weight loss averaging approximately 7.7% compared to 22.8% in untreated controls.
• Tissue Preservation: The nasal treatment reduced lung inflammation and preserved lung tissue even when viral levels later matched those found in control subjects.

Broad Antiviral Activity

• Pathogen Neutralization: Laboratory findings demonstrated that LCTG-001 neutralized influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and human adenovirus type 5.
• Avian Influenza Recognition: The investigational product also recognized highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1), commonly referred to as bird flu.
• Antibody Pool: The treatment utilizes pooled milk from 120 donors to create a diverse population of antibodies targeting multiple viral strains.

Practical Implications and Regulatory Status

LCTG-001 is being developed to target an unmet medical need for patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) who continue to experience respiratory infections despite conventional therapies. While standard immunoglobulin replacement helps many patients, it does not restore secretory IgA to nasal passages.

• Regulatory Designations: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted LCTG-001 both Orphan Drug and Rare Pediatric Disease designations for CVID.
• Future Steps: Lactiga is working toward initial human clinical studies. The treatment is administered nasally both before and after viral exposure in experimental settings.