SINTX Technologies, Inc. (www.sintx.com) (NASDAQ: SINT) (“SINTX” or
the “Company”), an original equipment manufacturer of advanced
ceramics, announced the hiring of a new business leader, and
provided a business update focused on its antipathogenic segment.
Key points in this update include the following:
- Hire of new leader for the antipathogenic business segment
- Progress in materials, manufacturing, testing, and intellectual
property
- Status of antiviral testing of silicon nitride
- Update on outside collaborations for antipathogenic
products
New business development
leader:
Given the Company’s continued advancements in
science, manufacturing technologies, and applications for
antipathogenic silicon nitride, SINTX has appointed Joseph Palomo
as Vice President of Business Development, to identify and develop
commercial opportunities in the antipathogenic market.
Palomo joins SINTX with over 40 years of
experience in protective apparel and PPE, such as surgical gowns,
surgical drapes, isolation gowns, films, tubing, and surgical face
masks. He has held management roles at Cardinal Health R&D for
new product development on a global scale, and has helped
identify and develop performance standards for medical devices
in ASTM and AAMI forums.
Update on materials,
manufacturing, testing, and
intellectual property
filings:
Since the onset of COVID-19, SINTX has expanded
from manufacturing discrete ceramic components to making
antipathogenic powders and related composites as well.
- The Company’s initial grade of
antipathogenic powder is called AP2; a newer grade called AP4 shows
even greater antipathogenic efficacy. The R&D and manufacturing
teams have developed and validated the manufacturing processes
required to make both powder grades.
- To accelerate several projects in
the antipathogenic space, the Company has hired additional
scientific, technical, and engineering personnel with skills in
chemistry, ceramic and materials engineering, product and process
development, and project management.
- New equipment has been designed and
built in order to develop key internal competencies related to
fabric impregnation with silicon nitride. Over 50 trials have
targeted process optimization, and as a result SINTX has identified
effective and economical methods of bonding silicon nitride into
nonwoven fabrics. A pilot manufacturing line is now in place at its
Salt Lake City facility to translate the new learning into
products.
- SINTX is proactively seeking U.S.
EPA registration of its silicon nitride to target additional
applications and industries.
The Company has collaborations in place to
develop specific, large-scale fabric impregnation technologies with
a private company based in Europe and North Carolina State
University, a leading center in textile development. While
developing new technologies is time-consuming, these efforts have
shown promising results so far. SINTX will therefore continue to
invest in protective textiles and related end-use applications that
require various impregnation technologies.
R&D Update:
During recent months, research at the University
of Rochester and at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University (Virginia Tech) has confirmed the earlier findings from
Piezotech (Japan), George Mason University, and IMQuest Biosciences
that showed the effectiveness of silicon nitride in neutralizing
viruses. Tested viruses have included Influenza A (H1N1), Feline
Calicivirus, Enterovirus, and SARS-CoV-2.
Our recent testing also shows that the newer
variants of SARS-CoV-2, including strains prevalent in Washington
state, the United Kingdom, and South Africa are susceptible to
degradation by silicon nitride. The underlying mechanism appears to
be an attack on the RNA backbone that is common to all of the
viruses investigated to date.
In its testing, the Company found a consistent
3- to 4-log reduction (>99.9%) in viral loads; this occurred in
less than 30 minutes, and in most cases, in less than 5 minutes.
Nonwoven polypropylene fabrics embedded with both AP2 and AP4
silicon nitride powders were also effective against the newer
SARS-CoV-2 variants, when tested to ISO 18184 standards.
The Company is aware that regulatory agencies
worldwide are targeting products making COVID-19 claims for
heightened scrutiny and, where needed, disciplinary actions. SINTX
takes its product claims seriously and has worked with top-tier
third-party laboratories to independently verify, and re-verify,
the antipathogenic behavior of silicon nitride, in all its various
forms, as well as in fabrics and other applications.
Commercial Relations:
SINTX has maintained a focus on the key target
markets for PPE, such as automotive air cabin filters, coatings,
and surfaces, and continues to identify other new applications.
Because of the early stage of discussions and non-disclosure
agreements, SINTX cannot disclose specific partners in some
cases.
- The Company’s engagement with
Iwatani on the development of antipathogenic polymeric surfaces is
ongoing, with Iwatani facilitating new development agreements with
its partners in filters, coatings, and polymer-based products.
- Wound care applications have
attracted interest from global medical device companies, due to
bacterial challenges in effectively treating wounds. Consequently,
the Company is exploring potential collaborations in this medical
segment.
- A well-diversified, global textile
manufacturer has approached the Company to explore new joint
development opportunities incorporating silicon nitride into its
polyester yarn.
- New opportunities in protective
face masks and mask filters have come forward given the recent
announcement to reassess the relationship with O2TODAY.
In addition to its work in the antipathogenic
space, SINTX has diversified its business through new opportunities
in advanced industrial ceramics, biomedical implants, and ballistic
armor ceramics.
Entry into industrial ceramics and into the
armor business was done with the goal of accelerating revenue
generation, while negotiating the time-consuming steps required to
commercialize biomedical and consumer protection products. Customer
discussions with experts in all these fields are progressing well
and look promising, and we remain committed, confident, and
extremely excited about these new business opportunities.
About SINTX Technologies, Inc.
SINTX Technologies is an OEM ceramics company
that develops and commercializes silicon nitride for medical and
non-medical applications. The core strength of SINTX Technologies
is the manufacturing, research, and development of silicon nitride
ceramics for external partners. The Company presently manufactures
silicon nitride powders and components in its FDA registered, ISO
13485:2016 certified, and ASD9100D certified manufacturing
facility.
For more information on SINTX Technologies or its silicon
nitride material platform, please visit www.sintx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) that are subject to a number of risks
and uncertainties. Risks and uncertainties that may cause such
differences include, among other things: obtaining the necessary
regulatory approvals will likely be expensive and require
additional testing and time; risks inherent in manufacturing and
scaling up to commercial quantities while maintaining quality
controls; bonding silicon nitride powder to unwoven fabrics in a
manner that proves to be safe for human use; there is no certainty
that we will be able to obtain EPA registration for our silicon
nitride; while we are in preliminary discussions with potential
collaborators; there is no assurance that a final agreement to
collaborate will be reached in a time manner or at all; we have no
experience making or selling ceramic products for use as armor,
accordingly, we may not be commercially successful in that market;
volatility in the price of SINTX’s common stock; the uncertainties
inherent in new product development, including the cost and time
required to commercialize such product(s); market acceptance of our
products once commercialized; SINTX’s ability to raise funding and
other competitive developments. Readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only
as of the date on which they are made and reflect management’s
current estimates, projections, expectations and beliefs. There can
be no assurance that any of the anticipated results will occur on a
timely basis or at all due to certain risks and uncertainties, a
discussion of which can be found in SINTX’s Risk Factors disclosure
in its Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 22, 2021, and in SINTX’s other
filings with the SEC. SINTX disclaims any obligation to update any
forward-looking statements. SINTX undertakes no obligation to
publicly revise or update the forward-looking statements to reflect
events or circumstances that arise after the date of this
report.
Business Inquiries for SINTX:SINTX
Technologies801.839.3502IR@sintx.com
Media Inquiries for SINTX: Amanda Barry
Director of PR and ContentThe Summit Group abarry@summitslc.com
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