New Technology Is Being Developed to Help Advance the War against Community-Acquired Infections.
Gainesville, Florida, March 11, 2008 — Quick-Med Technologies reports that it is developing NimbuDermâ„¢, an advanced skin and hand sanitizer technology that human and lab tests show to be a unique combination of instant and long-lasting personal antimicrobial protection. This innovation comes at a time when there’s growing concern that many common, everyday surfaces—such as doorknobs, desks, keyboards, and phones—are contaminated with harmful bacteria, including potentially deadly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, and others resistant to many of today’s antibiotics.
Currently, most hand sanitizers rely on alcohol to disinfect and sanitize the skin. These products do an excellent job of rapidly cleaning hands and extend hand hygiene to many situations where washing hands simply isn’t practical. However, sanitized hands are quickly vulnerable to recontamination from touching additional surfaces. Unlike soap, which has some residual protection, traditional hand sanitizers provide no ongoing protection as their antimicrobial protection ceases as rapidly as hands dry and the alcohol-based active ingredient evaporates.
“Quick-Med’s NimbuDerm technology has the potential to dramatically change the hand-hygiene paradigm by combining the immediate disinfection power of an instant sanitizer with the long-lasting antimicrobial persistence of an advanced bio-active polymer,†declared Dr. Gerald M. Olderman, Vice President of R&D and leader of the company’s scientific team. “With many infections being transferred via hand contact, we believe NimbuDerm’s third-generation technology could bring a new level of hand-hygiene assurance to consumers and healthcare professionals alike†he observed.
Laboratory tests demonstrate that NimbuDerm’s unique antimicrobial polymer properties will kill more than 99.99% of disease causing germs, including the lethal strain of MRSA. Human use tests show that NimbuDerm also provides the same high level of continuing antimicrobial protection for 6 hours after each application without wearing off or losing its effectiveness. Poor hand hygiene is considered to be a major contributor to the increase in MRSA infections.
MRSA, which has been identified in hospitals for 4 decades, is now increasingly found in schools, gymnasiums, and offices, and on common “touch surfaces†such as keyboards, door knobs, desktops, telephones and shopping cart handles. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2005 MRSA was responsible for an estimated 94,000 life-threatening infections and 18,650 deaths in the United States. MRSA is becoming increasingly problematic, not only in acute care settings, but also in long-term care facilities and the community. “We are on the verge of losing control of the situation, particularly in the hospitals,” observed Dr. Chip Chambers, Chief of Infectious Disease at San Francisco General Hospital in a January 20, 2008 feature article in the San Francisco Chronicle.
The NimbuDerm technology contains no triclosan, the active ingredient found in many antibacterial soaps and the subject of considerable current controversy. Studies have shown that large polymers such as NimbuDerm will not generate bacterial resistance. NimbuDerm technology can be incorporated into various formulations, and is compatible with common additives such as emollients (to help keep skin soft and hydrated), therapeutic nutrients, and other active ingredients.
NimbuDerm technology is not yet available commercially. Quick-Med Technologies is seeking a partner to help bring this important and needed technology to the market in developing final product formulations, preparing marketing plans, and importantly, taking the necessary steps to satisfy applicable FDA and other countries’ regulatory requirements.
About Quick-Med Technologies, Inc.
Quick-Med Technologies, Inc. is a life sciences company that is developing broad-based technologies for the healthcare and consumer markets. The Company’s two core product groups under development are (1) NIMBUS®, a technology employing advanced polymers that can be used in a wide range of applications from advanced wound care to industrial and consumer products; and (2) MultiStatâ„¢ family of advanced patented methods and compounds, shown to be effective in key skin care therapy applications for cosmetic, military, and medical markets. For more information, see: www.quickmedtech.com.
© 2008 Quick-Med Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved. NIMBUS® and MultiStat™ are trademarks of
Quick-Med Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Safe Harbor Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release may be deemed to be forward-looking statements under federal securities laws, and Quick-Med Technologies, Inc. intends that such forward looking statements be subject to the safe harbor created thereby. Quick-Med Technologies, Inc. does not undertake an obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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Contact:
Quick-Med Technologies, Inc
Natasha A. Sorobey
Investor & Media Relations
Gainesville, Florida
(888) 835.2211 Ext 107
[email protected]
http://www.quickmedtech.com
