SAN DIEGO, April 18, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- PURE Bioscience signed an agreement licensing Ciba Specialty Chemicals to market and sell its silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC) antimicrobial.
The development, promotion, distribution and supply agreement grants Ciba a worldwide license to market and sell PURE's patented antimicrobial as a preservative and biocide into personal care and household care markets. Under the terms of the agreement, the company will sell SDC concentrate to Ciba for resale to Ciba's customer base.
Ciba will actively market SDC to its customers as well as fund additional testing and data development necessary for domestic and international regulatory filings for SDC uses in the personal care and household care markets. Under the terms of the agreement, financial details are not disclosed.
Michael L. Krall, president and CEO of PURE Bioscience, stated, "This agreement with Ciba is the culmination of almost two years of progressive testing and development agreements to evaluate the applications for and marketability of our SDC antimicrobial. We are enthused to have found a partner that shares our vision for the integration of SDC into everyday household and personal care products."
Krall continued, "We believe that Ciba's excellent reputation, its vast customer network, its global market leadership with sales in 120 countries and its commitment to conducting additional testing and regulatory work on SDC will be invaluable to the acceleration of SDC sales for both Ciba and PURE."
Catherine Ehrenberger, global head of Ciba Specialty Chemicals Home & Personal Care business line, stated, "The water-soluble silver salt technology of PURE Bioscience is an excellent tool for formulators in personal care and household industries to improve the preservation and bactericidal properties of their formulations."
Under the agreement, PURE may and will continue its established relationships with existing partner companies and customers, and will continue its sales strategy in market segments not targeted by Ciba.
SDC is an electrolytically generated source of stabilized ionic silver that can serve as the basis for a broad range of products in diverse markets. Colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-caustic, the aqueous microbial formulates well with other compounds. PURE produces and has begun to market pre-formulated, ready-to-use product, as well as varying strengths of SDC concentrate as an additive or raw material for inclusion in other companies' products.
Axen30, PURE's first commercialized SDC product, is a powerful hard surface disinfectant whose efficacy exceeds that of most leading commercial and consumer products while maintaining a lower toxicity rating. Its EPA registered claims include a 30-second kill time and a 24-hour residual kill on standard indicator bacteria, a 2-minute kill time on some resistant strains of bacteria including MRSA and VRE, 10-minute kill time on fungi, 30-second kill time on HIV Type I, and 10-minute kill time on other viruses.
PURE Bioscience (www.pure-bioscience.com), based in El Cajon, Calif., was incorporated in 1992 and was formerly named Innovative Medical Services. It received EPA registration of expanded claims for its Axen30 hard surface disinfectant to include use on hard surfaces in childcare facilities. The agency previously registered Axen30 for disinfection of hard surfaces including those in restaurants, homes and medical facilities. Its registration of Axen30 for use on sensitive children's use sites emphasizes the "least-toxic" characteristics while expanding its versatility in the professional and consumer disinfection markets.
Ciba Specialty Chemicals (www.cibasc.com) is a leading global company dedicated to producing high-value effects for its customers' products. Ciba strives to be the partner of choice for its customers, offering them innovative products and one-stop expert service. Ciba creates effects that improve the quality of life -- adding performance, protection, color and strength to textiles, plastics, paper, automobiles, buildings, home and personal care products and much more. Ciba Specialty Chemicals is active in more than 120 countries around the world and is committed to be a leader in its chosen markets. In 2004, the Company generated sales of 7 billion Swiss francs and invested 288 million in R&D.
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