ENA secures $3M grant to move virus-fighting nasal spray into asthma trials

ENA is a biotech company that has developed a nasal spray designed to fight multiple respiratory viruses. On September 3, 2026 the company announced that it has received a $3 million grant to advance the spray into asthma clinical trials. The funding round is classified as a grant, and the announcement lists no lead investors, indicating that the money comes from an unnamed grant‑making source. The grant will be used specifically to initiate asthma trials that aim to test the spray’s ability to outsmart flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID‑19. By focusing on asthma patients, ENA hopes to demonstrate that its formulation can protect a vulnerable population from the most common viral triggers of respiratory distress. The move places ENA among a small group of biotech firms pursuing multi‑virus prophylaxis through intranasal delivery, a strategy that differs from traditional vaccine approaches that target a single pathogen. While the market for respiratory antivirals is crowded, ENA’s approach seeks to combine broad‑spectrum protection with the convenience of a spray, potentially offering a new tool for both prevention and management of viral infections in asthma sufferers. The grant’s timing reflects ongoing interest in solutions that can address the recurring challenges posed by flu, RSV and COVID‑19, especially in populations at higher risk of severe outcomes.