Skip to content
  • info@qps.com
  • English
qps-30-logo-144ppi
  • Company
  • Locations
    • USA
      • Delaware
      • Miami
      • Missouri
    • Europe
      • The Netherlands
      • Austria
    • Taiwan
      • CTPS
      • NKSP
      • Qualitix
    • India
  • Insights
Generic filters
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in excerpt
  • Services
      Bioanalysis >
      • Assay Finder
      • Biomarkers and Translational Medicine
      • Biotherapeutics
      • Cell and Gene Therapy
      • CLIA
      • Genomics
      • ICP-MS (Mass Spectrometry)
      • Small Molecules
      Preclinical Services >
      • DMPK
      • Biotransformation
      • Micro Autoradiography (MARG)
      • Preclinical DDI Studies
      • Protein Binding
      • Radiolabeled ADME
      • Quantitative Whole-Body Autoradiography (QWBA)
      • IND Package
      • Pharmacology
      • Toxicology
      Lab Services >
      • Leukopak Services
      • Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs)
      Clinical Services >
      • Early Stage Clinical Trials
      • Clinical Research Services
      • Project Management and Site Monitoring
      • Site Identification and Qualification
      • Global Medical Affairs
      • Medical Writing Services
      • Pharmacovigilance
      • Global Regulatory Affairs
      • Central Safety Lab
      • Clinical Trial Kits
      • Clinical Biostatistics Consultancy
      • Clinical Data Management
      • Study Recruitment
  • Resources
    • Our Science
      • Expert Interviews
      • Podcasts
      • Scientific Posters
      • Scientific Reference Articles
      • Thought Leadership
      • Webinars
      • White Papers
    • Our Expertise
      • Dermatology
        • Dermal and Transdermal
      • Endocrinology
      • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
      • Neuropsychiatry
      • Obesity Clinical Trials
      • Oncology Clinical Trials
      • Rheumatology
      • Vaccines
      • Women’s Health
    • Services Materials
      • Brochures
        • Brochures – Chinese
        • Brochures – Japanese
        • Brochures – Korean
      • Case Studies
      • eBooks
      • Ultimate Guides
        • Oncology
        • Oligonucleotides
        • Gene Therapy
      • Videos
    • Guidance Documents
  • Blog
    • Infographics
  • Careers
  • Contact
QPS Logo
qps-30-logo-144ppi
  • Company
  • Locations
    • USA
      • Delaware
      • Miami
      • Missouri
    • Europe
      • The Netherlands
      • Austria
    • Taiwan
      • CTPS
      • NKSP
      • Qualitix
    • India
  • Insights
  • Services
    • Bioanalysis
      • Assay Finder
      • Biomarkers and Translational Medicine
      • Biotherapeutics
      • Cell and Gene Therapy
      • CLIA
      • Genomics
      • ICP-MS (Mass Spectrometry)
      • Small Molecules
    • Preclinical Services
      • DMPK
        • Biotransformation
        • Micro Autoradiography (MARG)
        • Preclinical DDI Studies
        • Protein Binding
        • Radiolabeled ADME
        • Quantitative Whole-Body Autoradiography (QWBA)
      • IND Package
      • Pharmacology
      • Toxicology
    • Lab Services
      • Leukopak Services
      • Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs)
    • Clinical Services
      • Early Stage Clinical Services
      • Clinical Research Services
        • Project Management and Site Monitoring
        • Site Identification and Qualification
        • Global Medical Affairs
          • Medical Writing Services
          • Pharmacovigilance
        • Global Regulatory Affairs
        • Central Safety Lab
        • Clinical Trials Kits
        • Clinical Biostatistics Consultancy
        • Clinical Data Management
        • Study Recruitment
  • Resources
    • Our Science
      • Expert Interviews
      • Podcasts
      • Scientific Posters
      • Scientific Articles
      • Thought Leadership
      • Webinars
      • White Papers
    • Our Expertise
      • Dermatology
        • Dermal and Transdermal
      • Endocrinology
      • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
      • Neuropsychiatry
      • Obesity Clinical Trials
      • Oncology Clinical Trials
      • Rheumatology
      • Vaccines
      • Women’s Health
    • Service Materials
      • Brochures
        • Brochures – Chinese
        • Brochures – Japanese
        • Brochures – Korean
      • Case Studies
      • eBooks
      • Ultimate Guides
        • Oncology
        • Oligonucleotides
        • Gene Therapy
      • Videos
    • Guidance Documents
  • Blog
    • Blog Infographics
  • Careers
  • Contact

Blog

Home / Chew on This: How Chewing Gum Could Fight the Flu
QPS-logo-white-tagline

Chew on This: How Chewing Gum Could Fight the Flu

  • QPS
  • May 14, 2025
  • Viruses

Cold and flu medicine likely isn’t your idea of a tasty treat. But what if tackling the flu was as easy as chewing a piece of gum? Scientists have developed an antiviral chewing gum that can safely trap the influenza virus, as well as the virus that causes the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Read on for more insight into the study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine and published in the journal Molecular Therapy.

Woman putting chewing gum in her mouth

Preventing Flu Transmission with Antiviral . . . Gum?

Antiviral medications are currently available for both flu and HSV, but they’re far from perfect. The researchers behind this groundbreaking gum cited three factors to underscore the need for a new antiviral product: the lack of an HSV vaccine, low vaccination rates for flu viruses, and “waning immunity and viral transmission after vaccination” against influenza. The team sought to create a new product: one that could reduce viral load before the viruses passed from person to person. Their solution is, perhaps surprisingly, a gum made from a unique bean powder.

Plant-Based Gum Effectively Neutralizes Viral Load

The research team has been fine-tuning the antiviral gum for years, initially developing a plant-based gum meant to trap SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The team built on that research, using a different plant as the base for this flu-specific gum: Lablab purpureus, also known as the lablab bean, which is native to sub-Saharan Africa. Past research indicates that this unique bean naturally carries a protein called Flt3 Receptor Interacting Lectin (FRIL), which can effectively bind to numerous viruses.

The researchers began by incubating samples of influenza, along with HSV-1 and HSV-2, with FRIL. They found that it effectively neutralized the viruses. Still, they wondered: Would enough FRIL be released during gum-chewing to make the process worthwhile? To find out, they used a mechanical mouth to chew the gum. Then, they experimented with the amount of bean powder in the gum tablet, eventually landing on a two-gram tablet containing 40 milligrams of powder. This formula was found to reduce the viral load in incubated samples by over 95 percent. The researchers also found that the gum could remain shelf-stable for at least two years, making it a viable treatment option for individuals living in hard-to-reach regions of the world with limited access to antivirals.

_____

The team’s research is still in the early stages. However, the scientists wrote that the observations “augur well for evaluating bean gum in human clinical studies to minimize virus infection/transmission.” More in-depth research, hopefully leading to FDA approval, is sure to follow — and, as the avian flu virus continues to evolve, it can’t come soon enough.

Did you enjoy this blog post? Check out our other blog posts as well as related topics on our Webinar page.

QPS is a GLP- and GCP-compliant contract research organization (CRO) delivering the highest grade of discovery, preclinical and clinical drug research development services. Since 1995, it has grown from a tiny bioanalysis shop to a full-service CRO with 1,200+ employees in the US, Europe, Asia, India and Australia. Today, QPS offers expanded pharmaceutical contract R&D services with special expertise in pharmacology, DMPK, toxicology, bioanalysis, translational medicine, cell therapy (including PBMCs, leukopaks and cell therapy products), clinical trial units and clinical research services. An award-winning leader focused on bioanalytics and clinical trials, QPS is known for proven quality standards, technical expertise, a flexible approach to research, client satisfaction and turnkey laboratories and facilities. Through continual enhancements in capacities and resources, QPS stands tall in its commitment to delivering superior quality, skilled performance and trusted service to its valued customers. For more information, visit www.qps.com or email info@qps.com.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Previous Silent Infection: The Rare Risk of Rabies Transmission from Organ Transplantation Next A Double-Edged Cure: Antibiotics Linked to Childhood Asthma and Allergies

Time is of the essence in Drug Development.

Contact the QPS Business Development Team Today!

Your link to a rewarding career.

Join the QPS team and be part of our growing organization.

Submit Your Resume

About qps

  • Mission, Vision, and Values
  • QPS History
  • Bioanalysis Milestones
  • Locations
  • Meet Our People
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Mission, Vision, and Values
  • QPS History
  • Bioanalysis Milestones
  • Locations
  • Meet Our People
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy

Preclinical Services

  • Assay Finder
  • DMPK
  • IND Package
  • Pharmacology
  • Toxicology
  • Assay Finder
  • DMPK
  • IND Package
  • Pharmacology
  • Toxicology

Clinical Services

  • Early Phase Clinical Trials
  • Leukopak Services
  • Global Medical Affairs
  • Global Regulatory Affairs
  • Therapeutic Areas
  • Early Phase Clinical Trials
  • Leukopak Services
  • Global Medical Affairs
  • Global Regulatory Affairs
  • Therapeutic Areas

Resources

  • Brochures
  • Case Studies
  • Conferences
  • eBooks
  • Guidance Documents
  • Milestones
  • Scientific Posters
  • Scientific Reference Articles
  • Thought Leadership
  • Videos/Webinars
  • White Papers
  • Brochures
  • Case Studies
  • Conferences
  • eBooks
  • Guidance Documents
  • Milestones
  • Scientific Posters
  • Scientific Reference Articles
  • Thought Leadership
  • Videos/Webinars
  • White Papers

Headquarters Location

Delaware Technology Park,
3 Innovation Way,
Newark, DE 19711

  • +1 512 350 2827
  • +1 302 369 5601, option 0
  • info@qps.com
  • Sales: +1 512 350 2827
  • HQ: +1 302 369 5601, option 0
  • info@qps.com

Connect with us

Linkedin-in Youtube Facebook-f Instagram
download-ios
download-google
qps-assay-finder-black

Subscribe To Our Blog

"*" indicates required fields

Name
Address
Confirmation*
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2025 · QPS Holdings. All Rights Reserved | Web Design by 417 Marketing.
Contact Us
Scroll to Top
Obesity Blog

Subscribe to the QPS Blog

Emails are serviced by Constant Contact. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email.

Subscribe Now

Notifications