Studies Confirm Skinvisible’s Chlorhexidine Hand Sanitizer Kills Seasonal Flu Virus

Skinvisible Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced results from the most recent round of studies on its patent-pending Chlorhexidine Antimicrobial Hand Sanitizer, demonstrating a greater than 99.9 percent kill on the seasonal influenza A viruses (H1N1 and H3N2) and the influenza B virus. The tests are the latest in a series conducted by Retroscreen Virology, a subsidiary of University of London’s Queen Mary School of Medicine, on the latest product in development from Skinvisible. Previous studies have shown the hand sanitizer to have a greater than 99 percent inactivation/kill on the “bird flu” virus H5N1 at 4 time points of 15 seconds to 5 minutes and a greater than 98 percent kill/inactivation for up to four hours when applied to skin. Because the product uses Skinvisible’s patented Invisicare delivery system, chemists at Skinvisible anticipate that the antimicrobial agent will remain active and bonded to the skin for up to four hours, resisting wash off and perspiration. Additional tests are currently underway to determine persistence against the viruses. “Each positive test result brings this product closer to market,” said Terry Howlett, president and chief executive officer of Skinvisible. “We continue to conduct further tests for persistency against other viruses including Norovirus (Norwalk), Rhinovirus, H2, H7 and SARS. When the research is completed, the product will be licensed to interested drug companies.”