Ann: GENERAL: CVT: Comvita Manuka Honey shown to

• Release Date: 02/02/12 18:44
• Summary: GENERAL: CVT: Comvita Manuka Honey shown to inhibit Superbugs
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CVT
02/02/2012 16:44
GENERAL

REL: 1644 HRS Comvita Limited

GENERAL: CVT: Comvita Manuka Honey shown to inhibit Superbugs

Research by scientists at the Cardiff Metropolitan University shows that
Manuka honey can be extremely effective against a particular type of
superbug, Streptococcus pyogenes.  If not caught early enough for example,
this bacteria has potential to develop into the flesh-eating disease,
necrotizing fasciitis.

The Welsh study used medical-grade Manuka honey provided by global natural
health and beauty products company, Comvita.

Comvita Chief Technical Officer, Dr. Ralf Schlothauer says they are very
pleased with the study results as the research provides further proof that
medical-grade Manuka honey is extremely effective in fighting super-bugs.

"This study focused on the bacteria, Streptococcus pyogenes. When this
infects wounds, it creates a biofilm which is a barrier to antibiotic
effectiveness and also stops the wound from healing."

"The exciting thing about the study is it shows Comvita's medical-grade
Manuka honey not only kills off some of the bacteria, it also inhibits the
formation of the biofilm."

Dr. Schlothauer says it's important to note only medical-grade Manuka honey
should be used on wounds, not UMF or table honey's.

"You don't want someone using the honey they might put on their toast, to
then try and put this on their wounds."

Comvita was the pioneering company of medical-grade Manuka honey research,
says CEO Brett Hewlett.

"We were the first company to have FDA-approved medical devices containing
medical-grade Manuka honey. These products are sold globally under our
Comvita Medihoney(TM) brand. "

"Comvita and its subsidiaries have 62 patents* with 46 in the application of
medical-grade Manuka honey. One of these has recently been upheld by the UK
Court of Appeal, further strengthening the robustness of the patent."

"The advanced woundcare market is growing and expected to exceed $12.3
billion by 2015.** Comvita's Medihoney(TM) technologies for applying Manuka
honey in the healing of stalled and infected wounds take advantage of this."
* *Kline Group, 2011.

# Ends #

For further information, please contact:
Brett Hewlett
CEO
021 740 160

Dr. Ralf Schlothauer
Chief Technical Officer
021 386 135

Julie Chadwick
Communications Manager
021 510 693

Notes
The Research
S. E. Maddocks, M. S. Lopez, R. S. Rowlands, R. A. Cooper. Manuka honey
inhibits the development of Streptococcus pyogenes biofilms and causes
reduced expression of two fibronectin binding proteins. Microbiology, 2012;
DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.053959-0

*Comvita Research and Intellectual Property
Research plays a vital role in giving consumers confidence they are getting
the very best product possible. Comvita has established collaborative
research projects with universities in New Zealand, Australia and Europe.
Such collaboration has led to Comvita securing the following patents and
plant variety rights (pending and granted) and more in development:

APINATE: Honey impregnated into alginate fibre.
MANUGEL: Gelled honey sheets and putties
MANUSORB: Three layered dressing honey gel sheet impregnated into alginate
fibre.
PLANT BREEDING PROCESS: Breeding methods to produce honey with increased
and/or tailored medical activity
HONEY ANALYSIS: methods of testing honey for medical activity
HONEY MODE OF ACTION: Tailored dressings to control mode of action.
HONEY GEL: A gel including honey for treating wounds
HONEY HYDROCOLLOID: A wound dressing containing honey in the form of a
hydrocolloid
PLANT BREEDING RIGHTS (PBR) / PLANT VARIETY RIGHTS (PVR): Various new breeds
of Manuka and Kanuka species selected for superior plant nectar composition.

About Comvita www.comvita.co.nz
Comvita is an international natural health and beauty products company with a
strong New Zealand heritage. We are committed to the development of
innovative natural health and wellbeing products, backed by credible
scientific research.

We develop and manufacture products in the categories of Health Care,
Personal Care (Skincare and Wound Care) and Functional Foods (Health Foods).
Manuka (leptospermum) honey is at the core of the Comvita product range and
we are the largest manufacturer and marketer of this uniquely New Zealand
resource.

We sell into more than 14 countries through a network of wholesale and
third-party outlets, more than 470 branded retail outlets throughout Asia -
including 400 stores in 40 cities in mainland China and online. We have
offices in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and
the United Kingdom.
End CA:00219132 For:CVT    Type:GENERAL    Time:2012-02-02 16:44:48