Here is the latest:
Thursday July 30, 4:22 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
New Insecticide Proves Successful in Eliminating Malaria-Carrying Mosquitoes
Two-Year Study Finds Company's Coated Bednets Provide Excellent Protection Against Worldwide Spread of this
Deadly Disease in Third World Nations
OAKLAND PARK, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 30, 1998-- A breakthrough insecticide system has proven to be a tremendously effective tool
in the global battle against malaria, according to a two-year independent laboratory study.
The revolutionary, high-tech insecticide system, manufactured by Insecta Sales & Research, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Viropro, Inc.,
(OTC BB: VPRO), takes mosquito nets and pre-treats them using Insecta's patented polymer technology.
''We're extremely pleased by the impressive results of these treated nets, but it's the hundreds of millions of people around the world,
particularly in the third world countries, who are threatened with malaria each year, who have the most to gain by this breakthrough technology,''
said Hugh Johnson, director of Viropro. ''We're going to begin offering this Insecticide system in Africa, South America and Asia where it's
needed most.''
With nearly three million deaths attributed to malaria each year, and more than 300 million total cases reported annually, health experts fear they
are losing ground in the war against the disease due to the development of new strains of malaria which are drug resistant. However, a World
Health Organization study has concluded that at least a half-million lives in Africa alone could be saved every year if treated bednets were widely
and properly used.
''Not only does the Insecta bednet work to meet its stated objective: kill mosquitoes, but we've been able to manufacture it so that a minimum
amount of insecticide is used. This keeps the costs low and means that less insecticide is released into the atmosphere,'' said Johnson, who also
reflected his strong satisfaction that Viropro's efforts will be saving thousands of lives around the globe.
According to the test results, conducted under the aegis of an independent laboratory, the insecticide succeeded in eliminating all mosquitoes
that had come in contact with the netting. In all the tests, it took less than 20 minutes for the mosquitoes to die once they were exposed to the
treated net. Furthermore, the insecticide fared just as well on unwashed nets as it did on those that had been washed repeatedly over the two-year
period.
Insecta, which earlier this month announced the successful results of an insecticide coated tape for the prevention of insect borne disease on
fruit trees following a year-long test at the University of Florida, will be applying for EPA registration of its treated bednets.
Additionally, Insecta's patented polymer technology allows it to manufacture EPA-registered, disease-preventive insecticide coating systems that
control all manner of crawling and flying insects in and around everything from homes, offices, restaurants, hotels and hospitals, to barns,
kennels, warehouses and sewer manholes. It is also been used effectively to control fire ants and spiders that are attracted to electrical
equipment.
Safe Harbor Disclosure
This Press Release contains or incorporates by reference ''forward-looking statements,'' including certain information with respect to plans and
strategies of Viropro, Inc. For this purpose, any statements contained herein or incorporated herein by reference that are not statements of
historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the forgoing, the words ''believes,'' ''anticipates,'' ''plans,''
''expects'' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause
actual events or actual results of Viropro to differ materially from these indicated by such forward-looking statements.
Contact:
Hugh Johnson, Director
1.800.361.1199 |
