OTC ‘Bird Flu’-Killing Hand Sanitizer Has Favorable Risk/Benefit, Firm Says
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
A new virucidal hand sanitizer capable of remaining on the skin for an extended period of time has a demonstrable benefit in the consumer environment, especially in the event of an avian flu pandemic, manufacturer Skinvisible Pharmaceuticals said
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A new virucidal hand sanitizer capable of remaining on the skin for an extended period of time has a demonstrable benefit in the consumer environment, especially in the event of an avian flu pandemic, manufacturer Skinvisible Pharmaceuticals said. The firm's patent-pending chlorhexidine 2.25% hand sanitizing lotion had a "greater than 98 percent inactivation/kill on the 'bird flu' virus H5N1 for up to four hours on the skin," a study conducted for the firm by Retroscreen Virology, a subsidiary of the University of London's Queen Mary School of Medicine, finds. Persistent hand sanitizers capable of killing the H5N1 virus could be an important "weapon" against the spread of the virus, according to Retroscreen and Skinvisible. "The longer the duration the active stays on the skin to kill the virus the better," the lab adds in a June 5 release. Skinvisible's proprietary Invisicare polymer delivery vehicle allows for the long duration. While the hand sanitizer would play an important role in an avian flu pandemic, the product should be made available over-the-counter independent of the H5N1 virus, Skinvisible said. The chlorhexidine-based hand sanitizer has been tested against a "variety of bacteria of concern to the healthcare industry, including the Super Bugs, VRE and MSRA," the release notes. Tests against norovirus, rhinovirus, influenza A (H1 and H3), H2 and influenza B also are planned. In October, FDA's Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee expressed concern over the risk/benefit analysis for non-alcohol-based consumer antiseptic products, in part because of their persistence on the skin (1 (Also see "Non-Alcohol Antiseptic Hand Products Should Prove Efficacy – NDAC" - HBW Insight, 24 Oct, 2005.), p. 9). However, Skinvisible believes studies such as the one conducted by Retroscreen create a favorable risk/benefit analysis for OTC sale. The Las Vegas, Nev.-based firm is currently looking for partners to market the product in both the consumer and healthcare markets and also help guide the product through the NDA process, Skinvisible said. - [Editor's note: This story was contributed by "2 The Tan Sheet," your weekly source for nonprescription pharmaceutical and nutritional news. For more information call 1-800-332-2181.] |