Antimicrobials
The global biocides industry is over $3 billion in revenues with approximately $1 billion being comprised of specialties, lower volume, high price and margin products like Triclosan and Pyrithione, and, approximately, $2 billion being commodity products like chlorine (bleach) and other commodities.
Industrial antimicrobials are used in a wide variety of applications ranging from architectural coatings to water treatment to control unwanted bacteria, fungi, mold and other organisms, enhancing performance, durability and safety for workers and consumers. While there are technical differences in performance and requirements, the terms antimicrobials, biocides, preservatives, fungicides, disinfectants and sanitizers are often used as though they are interchangeable.
Performance, known as efficacy, is measured by whether the antimicrobial actually kills the organisms (bugs) of concern or just prevents their reproduction and growth, the range of different types of organisms controlled, and the conditions for which the antimicrobial is effective.
Toxicity is also a critical element of performance as these products must do their job, but remain safe for workers or consumers and the environment.
There is a strong market place demand for antimicrobial products with an improved balance between cost effectiveness and safety. In addition, regulatory agencies in the U.S. and Europe are demanding safer products and expensive re-registration even of existing products to confirm the safety of the products currently being used in the market. Also, due to the challenging requirements to develop an effective antimicrobial, and the cost of developing the toxicity/safety data necessary for registration, very few new products have been introduced in the past few decades. This has created additional demand for new, differentiated products by antimicrobial product manufacturers.
Elevance's metathesis technology offers the opportunity to produce antimicrobial products that cannot be efficiently produced through other manufacturing processes, including several naturally derived structures that show activity as antimicrobials and have demonstrated early indication of attributes highly desired in a new antimicrobial, including:
- Broad spectrum activity over a wide pH range
- Chemical compatability with other components of the product or material to be treated.
- Blendability with currently approved biocides with potential to lower their toxicity and cost.
- Low toxicity
- Acceptability for food use
Our testing has established sufficient performance to excite several industry experts who have reviewed the data. Consistent with our preferred business model, Elevance believes that collaboration with leading suppliers of antimicrobials in a variety of market segments will be the best approach to commercializing this exciting development. We have been in contact with several of the leading antimicrobial manufacturers/suppliers in targeted areas and are moving forward in establishing formal development and commercialization relationships with selected leaders. We anticipate that our developing relationships will result in further announcements in early 2009.