Healthcare company Avrio Health LP said on Thursday that the Betadine Antiseptic Sore Throat Gargle (active ingredient, povidone-iodine or PVP-I) killed 99.9% of the COVID-19 virus within 15 seconds in an in vitro (laboratory) study.

The company added that the Betadine Gargle containing 0.5% PVP-I demonstrated virucidal activity against SARS-CoV-2 and four surrogate coronaviruses in separate in vitro studies conducted by Utah State University, Institute for Antiviral Research, BluTest Laboratories, Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Center at the University of Malaya, Malaysia as well as the Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore.

According to the company, Betadine Antiseptic Sore Throat Gargle (0.5% povidone-iodine antiseptic gargle), which should not be swallowed, is an oral antiseptic with use for the temporary relief of occasional sore throat. Betadine Antiseptic Sore Throat Gargle will be available in retail stores in late August 2020. All products should be used only as directed on the label.