Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.08.11.244996v1?rss=1 Authors: Campione, E., Lanna, C., Cosio, T., Rosa, L., Conte, M. P., Iacovelli, F., Romeo, A., Falconi, M., Del Vecchio, C., Franchin, E., Lia, M. S., Minieri, M., Chiaramonte, C., Ciotti, M., Nuccetelli, M., Terrinoni, A., Iannuzzi, I., Coppeda, L., Magrini, A., Moricca, N., Sabatini, S., Rosapepe, F., Bartoletti, P. L., Bernardini, S., Andreoni, M., Valenti, P., Bianchi, L. Abstract: The current treatments against SARS-CoV-2 have proved so far inadequate. A potent antiviral drug is yet to be discovered. Lactoferrin, a multifunctional glycoprotein, secreted by exocrine glands and neutrophils, possesses an antiviral activity extendable to SARS-Cov-2. We performed a randomized, prospective, interventional study assessing the role of oral and intra-nasal lactoferrin to treat mild-to-moderate and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients to prevent disease evolution. Lactoferrin induced an early viral clearance and a fast clinical symptoms recovery in addition to a statistically significant reduction of D-Dimer, Interleukin-6 and ferritin blood levels. The antiviral activity of lactoferrin related to its binding to SARS-CoV-2 and cells and protein-protein docking methods, provided the direct recognition between lactoferrin and spike S, thus hindering the spike S attachment to the human ACE2 receptor and consequently virus entering into the cells. Lactoferrin can be used as a safe and efficacious natural agent to prevent and treat COVID-19 infection. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info