additional information - retroscreen virology repo

Citrofresh International Ltd. ABN: 76 064 551 426 Sanitising The World For Your Protection
Citrofresh®
International Ltd
Citrofresh® - The only natural choice.
ASX RELEASE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PURSUANT TO ASX ANNOUNCEMENT DATED 27th
SEPTEMBER 2005
RETROSCREEN VIROLOGY REPORT
Citrofresh International Limited (CTF) released an announcement to the ASX dated 27th
September 2005 detailing the results of laboratory tests conducted by Retroscreen
Virology on the efficacy of Citrofresh® against four virus cell lines; Urbani SARS virus
C1008 (Urbani SARS), A/Sydney/5/97 MDCK (Human Influenza A virus), HRV-16 MRC-5
(Human Rhinovirus) and HIV-1IIIB C8166 (HIV-1).
The Company is pleased to clarify the following points and provide additional information
on the Retroscreen report and CTF information.
Retroscreen Virology
Retroscreen Virology Ltd (www.retroscreen.com) is an independent company (located at
Barts & The London, Queen Mary’s School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, United
Kingdom) that was commissioned by the research arm of CTF to conduct laboratory trials
on the efficacy of the four above-mentioned viruses. The Retroscreen report was
commissioned in August 2004 following on from trials and data reviews that had been
previously undertaken in South Africa and China and are still ongoing.
The study described in this report was conducted in compliance with the following Good
Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards and Retroscreen has acknowledged as a function of
the GLP standards that the report data is valid. It meets:-
1) The United Kingdom Good Laboratory Practice Regulations 1999 Statutory
Instrument No. 3106.
2) The United Kingdom Good Laboratory Practice (Codification Amendments etc.)
Regulations 2004 Statutory Instrument No. 994.
3) OECD Principles of Good Laboratory Practice, (Revised 1997).
Further disclosure of the laboratory results are noted in this announcement.
Citrofresh International Ltd
8 Rodney Road, North Geelong,
Victoria 3215.
AUSTRALIA.
PH: 61 3 5272 3013
FAX: 61 3 5272 3144
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.citrofresh.com
Citrofresh International Ltd. ABN: 76 064 551 426 Sanitising The World For Your Protection
Further Disclosure on the Retroscreen Report
Retroscreen Virology was commissioned to undertake in vitro laboratory trials to
determine the efficacy of Citrofresh® against the above-noted viruses.
Citrofresh® was tested in four different concentrations against the above-noted viruses;
0.25%, 0.5%, 2% and 5%. Each Citrofresh® concentration was tested for toxicity on each
of the four cell lines.
Retroscreen Virology used three different adherent cell lines; C1008, MDCK and MRC-5 for
the detection of cytopathic effect (CPE) of the viruses after exposure to Citrofresh® for 1
and 5 minutes. Following the above contact times, cells were incubated at 37 ºC and CPE’s
were checked and recorded every day for up to 7 days.
Prior to the viral testings, an Acute Toxicity Assay was carried out to determine the
adherent cells viability against Citrofresh® and each cell line exhibited >80% viability,
which was the minimum requirement for further studies.
The pH versus Citrofresh® concentration was also determined, including the titre of viral
log reduction, to evaluate the effect of pH on viral growth inhibition.
With respect to the results reported by Retroscreen Virology, it was concluded that of the
four viruses, Human Influenza A virus exhibited the most significant viral load reduction of
log10 2.8 in the lowest concentration of Citrofresh® at 1%, followed by the Human
Rhinovirus log10 2.5 reduction at a 2% concentration.
On the above mentioned viruses, the reduction of viable virus load was exhibited after 1
minute exposure time to Citrofresh® i.e. the viral log reduction of 2.8 and 2.5 occurred
within a 1 minute contact time. At the same time Citrofresh® exhibited concentration
dependent viral load reduction activity against SARS, Influenza A and the Human
Rhinovirus. Citrofresh® did not exhibit time dependent viral load reduction against HIV-1
virus and was effective against this virus in a 5% concentration.
These results are conclusive and determine the effective concentration of Citrofresh®
against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses and confirms that equal or less than 5%
concentration and equal or less than 5 minutes contact time will be sufficient to eliminate
all of these viruses as tested.
Retroscreen concluded that “Citrofresh exhibits significant virucidal activity against all four
viruses tested.”
Company Background
CTF’s Managing Director, Mr. Ravi Narain has been developing the current Citrofresh®
formulation over the last nine years and CTF holds the exclusive marketing rights to the
Citrofresh® range of products.
CTF actively pursues registration for its products in multiple jurisdictions and as those
registrations are granted it seeks commercial partners and distributors to market the
Citrofresh® range of products.
Citrofresh® Products
Citrofresh® is a unique, certified organic, broad-spectrum micro-biocide used in a range of
dilutions and applications as a disinfectant and sanitizer. It is the ‘base product’ from
Citrofresh International Ltd. ABN: 76 064 551 426 Sanitising The World For Your Protection
which many Citrofresh® products are derived such as Citrofresh, Croplife, Derm-E-San,
San-E-Foam and Citrofresh Feed Additive. The disinfectant product is unique in that
Citrofresh® has no harmful side effects. It is biodegradable, non-carcinogenic, nonallergenic
and non–toxic. Even in its concentrated form, it is not harmful to the skin.
Solutions may be disposed of by pouring down the drain without harm to the
environment.
Due to its synergistic activity created from a Bioflavonoid complex and naturally occurring
organic acids, the compound has had significant impact in the food, pharmaceutical and
biotechnology industries, by acting as an effective anti-viral/anti-bacterial disinfectant and
anti-fungal agent.
CTF operates in the following four markets:
Food & Agriculture
• Food (food processing, shelf-life extension & bacterial control).
• Crop-Health (nutrition, anti-mould, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal).
Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfectant
• Industrial (food processing).
• Hospital & Healthcare.
• Decontamination (bio-security, emergency disease control).
Human Health & Personal Hygiene
• Broad-Spectrum micro-biocide for various human healthcare applications.
• Personal Hygiene and healthcare products.
• Government - Bio-Terrorism.
Animal Health
• Animal Health (nutrition, feed additive, anti-bacterial/virucidal).
• Government - Emergency Disease Control & Prevention.
Citrofresh® has not been developed as a vaccine and is not claiming to be a cure for any
of the viruses noted in the Retroscreen report. Citrofresh® is a topical application and its
current use is as a disinfectant. The application of Citrofresh® as a product is to impact on
the transmission of viruses and bacteria. This is consistent with the products current use
as a Hospital Grade disinfectant and hand sanitiser.
Citrofresh® is TGA Listed as a Hospital Grade Disinfectant (AUST L 199957) and as a Hand
Sanitiser (AUST L 80972 & TGAIN 156394). The Retroscreen Virology laboratory results
are further evidence of the efficacy of Citrofresh® as a broad spectrum biocide and the
recent laboratory results are consistent with laboratory results derived over the last nine
years (Refer www.citrofresh.com “Kill List” and related data in the Download section).
Prior Company disclosures
The Company announcement of 27th September 2005 is consistent with recent
announcements released by the company.
On the 19th September 2005 the company announced inter alia: a major expansion into
the South African market with the signing of a three year $4.5m distribution expansion
agreement with its South African distributor, Citrofresh South Africa Pty Ltd. (Citrofresh
Citrofresh International Ltd. ABN: 76 064 551 426 Sanitising The World For Your Protection
SA). Citrofresh SA will initially target the livestock and agricultural sectors. Citrofresh® is
used as a surface disinfectant to decontaminate infected areas. Trials are currently
underway to determine if Citrofresh® can also be used as a potential feed additive for
ostriches to prevent Avian Influenza infection.
On the 8th August 2005 CTF announced efficacy of Citrofresh® against the H5N2 strain of
Avian Influenza. The study was completed by The Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute
(OVI) of South Africa. The OVI is a division of the South African Agricultural Research
Council (ARC), a semiautonomous body created to improve the efficiency of research and
other services rendered to the agricultural community. The study and report was
completed by the OVI virology department which researches epidemiological aspects of
viral diseases of Africa. At that time the company announced that the company would
commence benchmarking its product against the current leading chemical disinfectants
used in the important emergency animal disease control and bio-security market.
On the 13th May 2005 the company announced that the Therapeutic Goods Administration
(TGA) had approved Citrofresh® as a Hospital Grade Disinfectant. CTF’s hand sanitising
gel, Derm-E-San had been previously approved by the TGA.
These announcements are consistent with CTF’s policy of ensuring its shareholders are
provided with continuous disclosure of the company’s market and research developments.
Additional Studies
CTF is currently undertaking additional in-vivo trials in South Africa by OVI for the efficacy
of Citrofresh® for use as a virucidal feed additive targeting Avian Influenza. These trials
are consistent with previous Citrofresh® trials conducted on animal health applications.
Other trials currently being undertaken include Dengue Fever and Foot and Mouth Disease
(National University of Singapore).
CTF is currently developing its trial protocols for in-vivo virucidal testing of Citrofresh® and
will announce the timing of these trials in due course.
Conclusion
CTF is committed to developing Citrofresh® as a unique broad spectrum biocide. CTF is
dedicated to its long term future and recognises that the development of certain
Citrofresh® applications and the registration thereof in varying jurisdictions will occur both
in the medium and longer terms. That being said it should be noted that CTF currently
has products and approvals in different jurisdictions and is generating income from these
products. Any further research aims of CTF are to expand the claims that can be made for
existing and future CTF products. Citrofresh can be used as a prevention control measure
with respect to the four viruses tested in the Retroscreen report.
For Further enquiries:
Ravi Narain, Ron Gajewski,
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Non-Executive Chairman,
(03) 5272 3013 (08) 9240 2448
Dated 28th September 2005
END