Quick-Med Technologies is Developing a
Next Generation Skin Sanitizer Technology to Provide
Long-Lasting Protection from MRSA
GAINESVILLE, Florida, March 11, 2008 – Quick-Med Technologies reports that it is
developing NimbuDerm™, 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 handhygiene
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.
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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) MultiStat™ 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
For additional further information, please contact QMT:
Natasha A. Sorobey -- Corporate & Investor Relations (Canada)
Phone: (403) 203-4748
Email: nsorobey@quickmed-technologies.com
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. |