HOUSTON, Sept. 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kraton
Corporation (NYSE: KRA), a leading global producer of specialty
polymers and high-value biobased products derived from pine wood
pulping co-products, is seeking regulatory approval for BIAXAM, a
novel 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 use as a durable, long-lasting disinfectant
from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In
parallel, Kraton is pursuing registrations and/or approval with
appropriate regulatory agencies in countries outside the U.S.
The efficacy of Kraton's BIAXAM technology has been thoroughly
studied by renowned 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 microbes1.
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.
"BIAXAM offers rapid and long-lasting performance, unlike
current disinfectant offerings that are only effective immediately
or require periodic treatment or re-application," said Dr.
Vijay Mhetar, Kraton's Senior Vice
President and Chief Technology Officer. "Currently there are no EPA
approved long-lasting disinfectants2, 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."
Dr. Mhetar continued, "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 BIAXAM technology is patent-pending and will be commercially
available shortly. For the U.S. market, until EPA approval is
obtained, BIAXAM cannot be sold, marketed or distributed as
components 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 Chief
Executive Officer. "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, please contact us at
kraton.biaxam.com.
1MRSA, Xenotropic Murine Leukemia virus, PI-3,
vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, carbapenem-resistant
Acinetobacter baumannii, influenza A virus, Staphylococcus aureus,
Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus albus, Escherichia coli,
Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum, and Aspergillus niger black
mold.
2United States Environmental Protection Agency.
(2020, July 7). Trump EPA Research
Studying the Effectiveness of Longer-Lasting Disinfectants.
ABOUT KRATON
Kraton Corporation (NYSE "KRA") is a leading global producer of
specialty polymers and high-value performance products derived from
renewable resources. Kraton's polymers are used in a wide range of
applications, including adhesives, coatings, consumer and personal
care products, sealants and lubricants, medical, packaging,
automotive, paving and roofing products. As the largest global
provider in the pine chemicals industry, Kraton's pine-based
specialty products are sold into adhesive, road and construction
and tire markets, and it produces and sells a broad range of
performance chemicals into markets that include fuel additives,
oilfield chemicals, coatings, metalworking fluids and lubricants,
inks and mining. Kraton offers its products to a diverse customer
base in numerous countries worldwide. Kraton, BIAXAM, the Kraton
logo and design are all trademarks of Kraton Corporation or its
subsidiaries or affiliates
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements are often characterized by the use
of words such as "hopes," "believes," "estimates," "expects,"
"projects," "may," "could", "would" "intends," "plans" or
"anticipates," or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions.
The statements in this press release that are not historical
statements, including statements regarding Kraton's expectations of
the role that BIAXAM can play in mitigating exposure to infectious
pathogens, the effectiveness of BIAXAM, expectations about the
possibility of bringing BIAXAM to market (including receipt of
regulatory approvals or the timing thereof) and expectations
regarding the potential applications and development partner
opportunities are forward-looking statements. There is no assurance
that any planned corporate activity, scientific research or study,
regulatory approval, developing, marketing, licensing, or selling
of products, patent application, allowance or consumer study, to
the extent pursued, will be successful or will succeed as currently
planned or expected. There is no assurance that any of BIAXAM's
postulated uses, benefits, or advantages will in fact be realized
in any manner or in any part. No statement herein has been
evaluated by the EPA or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
All forward-looking statements in this press release are made
based on management's current expectations and estimates, which
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed in forward-looking statements. Additional
information concerning factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking
statements is contained in Kraton's most recently filed annual
report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and in other
filings made by Kraton with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, and include, but are not limited to, risks related to:
Kraton's ability to continue the technological innovation and
successful commercial introduction of new products (which depends
on obtaining regulatory approval); early stage products performing
as currently expected; Kraton's ability to protect its intellectual
property and other proprietary information; Kraton's ability to
repay or re-finance its indebtedness; Kraton's reliance on third
parties for the provision of significant operating and other
services; the impact of extraordinary events, including health
epidemics of pandemics such as COVID-19 (including governmental and
regulatory actions relating thereto); natural disasters and other
weather conditions and terrorist attacks; conditions in the global
economy and capital markets; fluctuations in raw material costs;
limitations in the availability of raw materials; competition in
Kraton's end-use markets; fluctuations in global tariffs and
logistics costs; and other factors of which we are currently
unaware or deem immaterial. Readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this press
release, and we assume no obligation to publicly update or revise
such forward-looking statements in light of new information or
future events.
For Investor Information:
H. Gene Shiels
Email: gene.shiels@kraton.com
For Media and General Inquiries:
Vaneese Bell
Email: biaxaminnovation@kraton.com
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SOURCE Kraton Corporation