INNOVATIVE BIOSAFE® ANTIMICROBIAL PASSES USP AND ISO TESTS FOR BIO-COMPATIBILITY IN MEDICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL APPLICATIONS

Standards Compliance Broadens Opportunity for Medical Manufacturers to Use a Fundamentally New Antimicrobial that Is Permanent, Highly Effective, and Safe

PITTSBURGH, November 11, 2008: Manufacturers of medical and pharmaceutical products now have the assurance that they can benefit from the substantial advantages of new Biosafe® antimicrobial over conventional additives while meeting critical standards of bio-compatibility, it was announced today by Biosafe, Inc.

Available as a powdered additive for plastics and textiles and as a masterbatch supplied by RTP Company, Biosafe antimicrobial has been found to meet ISO 10993-1 and USP bio-compatibility standards. In vivo and in vitro tests at independent laboratories included intracutaneous, systemic toxicity, and cytotoxicity studies by NAMSA. Documentation of results can be obtained by emailing dwagner@biosafe.com.

“Pre-qualifying Biosafe under these standards enables OEMs and polymer processors to reduce the risk of project failure and the resulting cost and loss of time,” said Donald J. Wagner II, vice president for business development. “The assurance of compliance gives confidence to manufacturers looking to take advantage of this fundamentally new antimicrobial, one that protects plastic and textile products more effectively and at lower cost than conventional silver-based additives and is unique in forming a permanent bond with the base polymer.”

Tiny loadings of Biosafe additive, ranging from 0.1 to 1.0%, are sufficient to keep product surfaces clean and protected from the staining and degradation caused by bacteria, mold, mildew, and fungi. Because of the covalent bond between Biosafe and the polymer in a plastic or textile, this efficacy is ongoing for the useful life of the product. The bond prevents the antimicrobial from leaching, being washed away, or being rubbed off.

While many conventional antimicrobials are metabolized by micro-organisms and interfere with their DNA, Biosafe actually kills them by rupturing their cell walls, avoiding the problem of adaptive or resistant microorganisms. Biosafe antimicrobial contains no arsenic, heavy metals, polychlorinated phenols, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

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RTP COMPANY, headquartered in Winona, Minnesota, U.S.A., is a global leader in specialty thermoplastic compounding. For information about Biosafe® masterbatch, contact RTP at 1-507-454-6900 or 800-433-4787, or e-mail rtp@rtpcompany.com.

BIOSAFE, INC. produces antimicrobial products based on patents for using interpenetrating polymer network technology, incorporating organo-functional silane chemistry, to impart permanent biostatic properties to the surfaces of many materials. Biosafe® products include HM 4100 additive powders for plastics and coatings; HM 4006 aqueous polymer dispersion; and HM surface-treated glass fillers, which provide antimicrobial performance along with property modification and cost reduction.

The company is headquartered at 100 Technology Drive, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Tel: 1-412-770-1302. Email: dwagner@biosafe.com. Visit www.biosafe.com.

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