NanoCMS, UVC 222nm Human-Safe Lamp for COVID-19 Inactivation
Biolog, FDA-Approved Safe Additive Provides 6-Hour Protection When Sprayed
Approval Expected Around September... World's First COVID-19 Blocking Spray Preventive Agent
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyungsoo] Amid the serious spread of the fourth wave of COVID-19 in South Korea, the number of new confirmed cases exceeded 2,200 for the first time on the 11th. In the United States, the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant has pushed the daily average of new confirmed cases above 100,000 for the first time since February. As COVID-19 cases surge worldwide again, interest is growing in products that eliminate 99.9% of the COVID-19 virus.
According to the financial investment industry on the 11th, NanoCMS's stock price surged 111% this month. It broke through 38,000 KRW within 8 trading days from 18,000 KRW at the end of last month. The stock price has been steadily rising even in single-price trading.
NanoCMS, a developer of nano new materials for security printing that entered the KOSDAQ market last March, announced that research results showing that the far-ultraviolet UVC 222nm (nanometer) lamp (Safe222 Models of 222nm UVC lamps) inactivated the COVID-19 virus indoors were published in an international academic journal.
NanoCMS introduced on its website that the far-ultraviolet lamp functions to inactivate the COVID-19 virus. The far-ultraviolet 222nm lamp reportedly significantly reduces pathogens such as COVID-19 indoors. A domestic research team published experimental results on the COVID-19 inactivation effect of the 222nm lamp developed by NanoCMS in an international academic journal (Clinical Laboratory). When 222nm lamp light was irradiated at a fixed distance onto gauze cultured with the COVID-19 virus, 99.9% of the virus was eliminated after 30 seconds of exposure, and complete inactivation was achieved after 60 seconds.
Research on removing coronavirus using UVC has been ongoing since last year. A research team led by Professor David Brenner of Columbia University Medical Center in the U.S. published in June last year in the international academic journal Scientific Reports that seasonal coronaviruses in aerosols could be killed by 99.9% using ultraviolet light. While UVC around 254nm used in hygiene sterilization products is harmful to humans and thus banned for human use by global health authorities, the 222nm wavelength cannot penetrate the tear film of the eyes or the stratum corneum of the skin, so it does not damage skin or eyes while demonstrating coronavirus eradication effects.
KOSDAQ-listed company Biolog Device has also recently attracted attention. It invested in Salbacion, a U.S. company that developed the spray-type COVID-19 preventive agent KobixilV through its subsidiary. Salbacion announced on the 3rd that "research results showed KobixilV inactivates 99.99% of the COVID-19 virus" and that it is awaiting approval from the FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). They plan to release KobixilG, which blocks bacterial and fungal infections, for COVID-19 prevention purposes. Since it is synthesized with the food additive LAE and copper salts in an optimal composition ratio, it is awaiting approval as a medical device rather than a drug. Copper compounds are classified as GRAS, the highest safety grade under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety recognition system, and are recognized as the safest substances used as food additives in daily life.
A representative of Salbacion's domestic investor said, "Since it was developed with food additives certified under the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) system, once sales approval is obtained, it will be available even at convenience stores." KobixilV is recommended to be sprayed every 6 hours.
A Biolog Device representative explained, "If sales approval is obtained around September, KobixilV is expected to become an essential item like masks," adding, "Since COVID-19 does not seem to disappear, using it as a preventive measure provides about 6 hours of effectiveness."
Biolog Device stated that it invested in Salbacion through its subsidiary and also secured distribution rights for the Middle East region.
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