Anti-microbial firm jumps US regulation hurdle
CHESHIRE-based anti-microbial technology firm Byotrol says regulatory approval with the Environmental Protection Agency in the US is on track, with the toughest test already completed to satisfaction.
Remaining tests are due to be complete by the middle of summer and talks are underway to commercialise Byotrol’s patented technology, it said in a trading update.
Completion of the EPA process will enable the company to claim 24-hour anti-microbial protection – the first such registration in the US for consumer products, putting Byotrol well ahead of its competitors.
Its partnership with Solvay is progressing well with its multinational clients undertaking detailed testing and research for a consumer product launch and a small number of high level commercial discussions are underway.
Elsewhere, the Daresbury company’s final round of testing with ISS for Byotrol efficacy in hospital wards is due to start at the end soon, with results expected in April.
More broadly, the company says it has an unprecedented number of deals under discussion across a spectrum of countries and sectors. Several are nearing completion and all are with well-known names in their respective markets.
These include hand sanitisers in Japanese consumer and medical markets, pet environment cleaning products in continental Europe and surface care products in the USA.
The listed company’s statement said: “At a divisional level our petcare (consumer) business is performing satisfactorily but our food (professional) business is behind plan due to the impact of the recent changes in the regulatory environment relating to limits on use of quaternary ammonium compounds.
“As a consequence we are seeing some product mix issues, however we are addressing these aggressively and are testing an alternative formulation that we believe will restore our competitive edge.”
“Despite the hiatus in the food business and accelerated EPA costs the board expects any resulting shortfall in EBITDA for the second half of the year to be mitigated by R&D tax credits and confirms the company’s working capital position is entirely adequate for future needs.”
Chairman Nicholas Martel said: “The board has never been more positive about the opportunities and our work load has never been higher.
“Our executive team has positioned Byotrol to be a completely different company over a period of only two years, whilst overcoming the dislocation to the legacy business from the changing EU regulations.
“Most of our development has been directed towards the consumer market and we are now engaged, alongside Solvay, with some of the most prominent consumer companies worldwide – we are seen as the experts on long lasting anti-microbial technology.
“From these discussions it is clear there is strong demand from consumers for long lasting products and we are perfectly positioned to offer the solution to the consumer companies’ quest to meet that demand.”
