LONDON — August 4, 2020 — Inner Mettle (IM), an innovator in the field of materials serving the sustainability and well-being of the environment and humanity, is launching its latest product — IM ViroBac fabric, proven to reduce microbial threats on touch within 30 minutes.IM ViroBac fabric has been developed to reduce the risk of viral and bacterial transmission via surface contact applicable to a multitude of situations in a commercial environment, such as public transport, medical facilities and hospitality.
“High touch surfaces, such as seats, bedding, curtains, could all play a more protective role, rather than a source of contamination, by reducing the amount of risk on touch,” highlighted the Executive Director of Inner Mettle (IM), Inam Saleem.
Thanks to its versatility, the soft fabric can be used to produce consumer products, much in need during the current, and future crises, referring to gloves and masks, Saleem added.
Coronavirus efficacy
In order to confirm the viral efficacy of Inner Mettle’s ViroBac technology, the company recently commissioned an independent EPA and FDA regulated laboratory, to put its IM ViroBac fabric through rigorous testing against a strain of the hu man coronavirus family.
“We wanted to provide our partners with continued confidence in the efficacy of our technology, and are proud to announce the results revealing its efficacy guarding against the Human Coronavirus (229E), with a reduction of 97.5 percent within 30 minutes,” Saleem said.
“Viruses are different from bacteria as they require living host cells in order to survive, whereas bacteria and mould can thrive independently. As a result of this difference, viruses are much more difficult to test against, especially for solid surface testing. Specialist equipment is needed, and the methods utilise living cells in order to test the viruses,” he added.
Inner Mettle stresses not to confuse the human Coronavirus (229E strain) with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), which is not available for public testing as this point in the pandemic, as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has categorised the virus at a biohazard level 3 and above.
Inner Mettle’s Vision
Inner Mettle’s ambition doesn’t stop at the current crisis, but is rather developing products with a view to the future to address upcoming global challenges.
“It has been testing times for everyone around the globe, and we have been working around the clock to find ways to assist and contribute to the current challenge. Touch contamination remains a primary mode of transmission, having a comprehensive approach to contain pathogens, especially in an urban environment, is going to be a priority moving forward,” Saleem said, emphasising that public and private sector collaboration would help speed up innovation to combat, both, current and future, challenges.
According to a 2019 United Nations news release, a report released by the UN Ad hoc Interagency Coordinating Group on Antimicrobial Resistance, warned that if no action was taken, drug-resistant diseases could cause 10 million deaths each year by 2050, and damage to the economy as catastrophic as the 2008-2009 global financial crisis. By 2030, antimicrobial resistance could force up to 24 million people into extreme poverty.
“Antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest threats we face as a global community. This report reflects the depth and scope of the response needed to curb its rise and protect a century of progress in health,” said Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General and Co-Chair of the IACG.
“It rightly emphasises that there is no time to wait, and I urge all stakeholders to act on its recommendations, and work urgently to protect our people and planet, and secure a sustainable future for all,” she added.
The report highlighted that strengthening infection prevention, and control, in health c are facilities, farms, schools, as well as the community at large, using available tools , were central to minimizing disease transmission, as well as the emergence and transmission of antimicrobial resistance in humans, animals, plants, food and the environment.
It furthermore called upon all stakeholders, including government, civil society, and the private sector to collaborate to achieve, what it termed a ‘sustained One Health’ response to antimicrobial resistance.
Inner Mettle believes that its IM ViroBac technology is well placed to contribute to the UN’s vision.
“We are working on other solutions, including an adhesive film that could assist with similar surface protection, as we see with the ViroBac fabric,” Saleem added.
Posted August 4, 2020
Source: Inner Mettle
