$256K Award to Study Efficacy Against Coronavirus, Other Viruses
(Ithaca, NY) — Halomine™, Inc., developer of a suite of novel, long-acting, anti-microbial products, today announced that it has received a second $256,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to continue its research into the efficacy of HaloFilm™ against viruses such as the novel coronavirus. HaloFilm™ is a revolutionary new product that can hold chlorine from germ-killing disinfecting products on a treated surface for weeks. It is a spray-on, re-applicable coating that enables chlorine containing disinfecting products to remain effective for weeks instead of minutes.
“Halomine is grateful to the NSF for this second award and recognition of the extraordinary potential that HaloFilm has to provide antiviral protection to hospitals, public facilities and consumer households. Our initial testing shows promising efficacy as a viricidal product. This grant will allow Halomine to continue this important research at a time when the world fights the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19,” said Ted Eveleth, Halomine’s CEO. “The main efforts of this Phase I project are focused on validating the efficacy of HaloFilm against coronaviruses that are relevant to outbreak virus strain of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) … HaloFilm turns the surface into a chlorine “battery” so using even a household brand cleaner or sanitizer will leave a surface covered with chlorine which can last longer than two weeks. HaloFilm has excellent efficacy because it relies on chlorine which has decades of use, and broad-spectrum efficacy against pathogens without generating pathogens with resistance. The outcome of this project is to establish the value proposition for HaloFilm against COVID-19 virus survival and … to test the long-lasting virucidal function of HaloFilm,” the grant application stated in part. The proposed project will advance the development of a novel product offering extended protection from bacteria, fungi, and viruses, as well as food-borne pathogens and even mold. The current disinfecting paradigm relies on killing pathogens periodically, leaving surfaces between disinfections vulnerable to new contamination. The proposed antiviral coating maintains surface integrity, potentially serving hospitals, long-term care facilities, outpatient centers, and other applications such as home health, food safety, mass transit safety, mold abatement, and schools. Halomine’s FIRST NSF Award Abstract can be found here: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2014378&HistoricalAwards=false Halomine’s SECOND NSF Award Abstract can be found here: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2028187&HistoricalAwards=false Halomine Inc. is a startup company based on a Cornell discovery and founded by Dr. Mingyu Qiao. Dr. Qiao, Halomine’s CTO, is a former postdoctoral associate whose research in the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering at the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences focused on the synthetic compound known as N-halamine and its real-world applications. Ted Eveleth joined as Halomine Inc.’s CEO. Mr. Eveleth, who has guided a number of start-ups through early development, received his MBA from the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business in 1990. HaloFilm is a “chlorine-extender,” which means after spraying HaloFilm on a surface, it binds with and traps the chlorine in place. Each time germs touch the treated surface, HaloFilm releases enough chlorine to kill the germs on the surface but continues to hold the rest of the chlorine in place. HaloFilm allows the bound chlorine to provide germ-killing protection for days. Halomine will be collaborating with Dr. Luis M. Schang, MV, PhD, Professor of Chemical Virology at the Baker Institute of Animal Health and the Cornell Department of Microbiology and Immunology.
A Rechargeable Antimicrobial Technology
Mingyu Qiao, Ph.D., came to Cornell to study with Professor Minglin Ma and to launch a new rechargeable antimicrobial technology—a void in the healthcare industry.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Greg Howard of Cogent Strategic Communications
207-232-2863
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