In these studies, the intranasal administration of astodrimer sodium 1% nasal spray as an antiviral or virucidal agent reduced viral replication in the serum, lung, trachea, brain and liver and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1α, IL-1β, TNFα and TGFβ) and chemokine MCP-1 in the serum, lung and trachea at 7 days post-infection. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is infection.