Kraton Seeking Regulatory Approvals for Block Copolymer Use as Disinfectant
Depending on the regulatory approval process or certification requirements by country, Kraton believes that BIAXAM could be used as a coating on personal protective equipment (PPE) and as a replaceable peel-and-stick film for a broad range of applications.
Kraton Corp. recently announced that it is seeking regulatory approval for BIAXAM™, a sulfonated polymer technology with long-lasting self-disinfecting properties that has been demonstrated in studies to quickly inactivate up to 99.99% of SARS-CoV-2 (virus that causes COVID-19) and other microbes. Kraton developed the BIAXAM technology as part of its sulfonated polymer product line and plans to expand product testing and seek regulatory approval for its use as a durable, long-lasting disinfectant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In parallel, Kraton is pursuing registrations and/or approval with appropriate regulatory agencies in countries outside the U.S.
Depending on the regulatory approval process or certification requirements by country, Kraton believes that BIAXAM could be used as a coating on personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face shields, as well as a variety of high-contact surfaces such as door handles, elevator buttons, public transportation surfaces, cellphone cases, etc. Additionally, it could be used as a replaceable peel-and-stick film for a broad range of applications, including medical, textiles, building and construction, and packaging.
Kraton reports that the efficacy of its BIAXAM technology has been studied by organizations including Boston University’s National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL), North Carolina State University, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston, and Syngene International Ltd. The testing performed at the UTMB and Boston University BSL-4 laboratories has demonstrated BIAXAM to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 and other microbes.
“BIAXAM offers rapid and long-lasting performance, unlike current disinfectant offerings that are only effective immediately or require periodic treatment or re-application,” said Vijay Mhetar, Ph.D., Kraton’s senior vice president and chief technology officer. “Currently there are no EPA approved long-lasting disinfectants, so this technology is truly extraordinary. We believe the EPA would approve BIAXAM for the U.S. market and allow us to market the solution due to the novel anti-microbial properties it has demonstrated.
“As COVID-19 virus can remain stable on a variety of substrates for an extended period, in some cases as many as seven days, there is an urgent need for long-lasting disinfectant. Once approved, Kraton’s BIAXAM polymer technology can play a vital role in mitigating exposure to infectious pathogens, including SARS-COV-2.”
The patent-pending BIAXAM technology will reportedly be commercially available shortly. For the U.S. market, until EPA approval is obtained, BIAXAM cannot be sold, marketed, or distributed as a component of products that kill or repel or claim to kill or repel microbes such as virus, bacteria, or mold.
“We’ve been developing this technology for some time for other applications, but the recent pandemic has led to an urgent and high demand for anti-microbial materials,” said Kevin M. Fogarty, Kraton’s president and CEO. “We are excited about the possibility of bringing this innovation to market. We are currently conducting discussions with a number of possible development partners to explore potential applications in the U.S. and other regions worldwide.”
For more information, visit http://kraton.biaxam.com.
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