MONTREAL, Nov. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - NOVEKO INTERNATIONAL INC. (“Noveko” or “the Group”) announces the final step in proving the effectiveness of its antimicrobial filtration technology, usable in medical, biomedical, commercial, industrial and residential applications. This technology allows the manufacturing of antimicrobial masks and filters able to stop and destroy bacteria and viruses. Its conception is unique on the world market. The results of the latest testing phases executed in dynamic mode (reproducing human breathing) proved fully conclusive and pave the way for commercialization in the near term.
Conducted under the supervision of Dr. Konstantin Goranov, Ph.D in Polymer Chemistry, by the Microbial-Resolution (Massachusetts) sub-division of Boston Analytical, Inc., these latest testing phases proved the 100% effectiveness of the antimicrobial technology developed by Noveko on some 200 bacteria tested. According to Andre Leroux, President and Chief Executive Officer of Noveko: “We are very pleased with these latest results, which enable us to pursue our partnership discussions with several international companies in view of manufacturing and marketing filters and masks derived from this innovative technology. We are confident that these developments should have a significant impact in public health and also contribute to create further value for Noveko’s shareholders.”
Besides an optimal effectiveness in its capacity to stop and destroy bacteria and viruses - such as clostridium difficile (c. difficile), escherichia coli (e. coli), the bacteria and viruses causing pneumonia, legionella pneumophila (cause of legionnaire’s disease), streptococci, bacillus anthracis (cause of anthrax) and the influenza virus (flu), whatever the currently existing strain - this technology offers other distinct advantages. For instance, it allows the manufacturing of reusable face masks that can be washed up to 100 times without losing their antimicrobial property. This technology can also be applied in the production of conventional masks meeting the N-95 standard, without changing current manufacturing methods and without any side effects for users.
This technology therefore features major commercial advantages in a broad high-potential market. Indeed, according to two 2006 industry studies by The Freedonia Group, Inc. (Cleveland, U.S.), the global demand for filters totaled US$34.1 billion worldwide in 2004 (World Filters to 2009, Industry Study #2036, published in March 2006), whereas the U.S. demand for masks alone stood at US$540 million that same year (Infection Prevention Products & Services to 2009, Study #1944, released in July 2006).
Furthermore, in view of using this technology in air filtration systems that can be installed in any health care institution as well as in any public, commercial, residential and agricultural building, BLI has obtained the certification of conformance with ASHRAE Standard 52.2-1999 for its prototype number B1F.AB1.150 BI-Antimicrobial.
In May 2006, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent titled “microbicidal air filter” for the antimicrobial filtration technology developed by Bolduc Leroux Inc. (“BLI”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Noveko. BLI currently has similar patents pending at the international level. This technology is the result of five years of R&D and the first phase of tests conducted by North American, French, Swiss and Chinese laboratories proved their optimal performance. Since the integration of BLI into the Group subsequent to its acquisition at the end of April 2006, the developments relating to this technology have been conducted by the subsidiary Noveko Inc.
PROFILE
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Noveko International Inc. has three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Noveko Inc., S.A.S. ECM (France) and Bolduc Leroux Inc. (BLI). The first two specialize in the design and marketing of portable real-time ultrasound scanners for in use in veterinary medicine and animal breeding, as well as in human medicine. BLI specializes in the custom processing and distribution of steel products based on client specifications. It has also developed and markets a line of downdraft particle extraction tables for various markets. Finally, BLI holds a U.S. patent for an antibacterial filtration technology, for the benefit of the Group. Operating since September 2002, Noveko International Inc. was listed on the TSX Venture Exchange on February 3, 2004.
The information set forth in this press release includes certain forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on assumptions exposed to major risks and uncertainties. Although Noveko deems the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements to be reasonable, the Company cannot provide any guarantee as to the materialization of the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements. The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
NOVEKO
CONTACT: Andre Leroux, Chairman of the Board, President and ChiefExecutive Officer; Alain Bolduc, Vice-President, Business Development,(514) 344-3030, www.noveko.com; Media: Laird Greenshields, Morin PublicRelations, (514) 289-8688 (pound key)221, (toll-free : 1 877 289-7007),Cellular: (514) 712-3252