Vanson HaloSource Inks Deal to License HaloShieldTMto
Medline
for use in Hospital Linens, Scrubs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sean Manne
Vanson HaloSource
(425) 881-6464
smanne@vanson.com
John J. Marks
Medline Industries, Inc.
jmarks@medline.com
Annie Morrow
Firmani & Associates, Inc.
(206) 443-9357
annie@firmani.com
March 26, 2004
(Redmond, Washington) — Vanson HaloSource today announced
it has reached an agreement to license its HaloShield N-halamine
technology to Medline Industries, Inc., the nation’s largest
privately owned medical supply company.
The three-year contract is expected to bring the Redmond-based
company a minimum of $1 million in revenue over the life of the
deal.
HaloShield is a patented coating and coating component that
allows chlorine molecules to bind to any surface, creating a
durable, long-lasting and renewable antimicrobial material. Medline
plans to incorporate HaloShield Fabri-KoteTM – the exclusive
antimicrobial application for textiles and non-woven material – on
hospital sheets, pillowcases, scrubs and gowns.
According to Jerry Wetherbee, Vanson HaloSource’s CEO,
this is the first large-scale commercial application of HaloShield,
a product that has broad applications across a variety of industries.
“HaloShield coatings extend the power of chlorine that
allows product manufacturers to turn virtually any surface – from
a cotton sheet to a tile floor – into a very durable antimicrobial
surface,” Wetherbee noted. “HaloShield-treated sheets
harness chlorine to kill any virus, bacteria or mold in a matter
of minutes. Once the chlorine is depleted, it can be renewed
by simply washing the garment in chlorine bleach.”
Ron Barth, president of Medline’s Medcrest textiles division,
discussed their search for a better fabric that would protect
patients and healthcare workers.
“We looked at every antimicrobial treatment available
and found that only HaloShield deals effectively with antibiotic
resistant bacteria such as MRSA and VRE, as well as the growing
threat of viruses, including HIV,” Barth said. "HaloShield
is going to give our customers a powerful tool in their ongoing
battle to keep their patients and personnel safe.”
The durable HaloShield coating remains on fabric for the life
of the article. According to Vanson HaloSource, each HaloShield-treated
sheet retains its antimicrobial qualities between regular launderings,
and renews its power each time it is washed using ordinary bleach.
“On untreated fabrics, chlorine and its antimicrobial
power simply evaporate as soon as it leaves the washing machine – allowing
new contaminants to grow freely,” Wetherbee said. “We
think of HaloShield as Velcro for chlorine molecules. HaloShield
locks the chlorine in place until it comes into contact and kills
the microbe, then it is released. Laundering the sheet
or scrub in common bleach – standard operating procedure
in hospitals – resets the chlorine on the fabric.”
Rigorous laboratory and field tests have shown that HaloShield
is non-irritating and safe for sensitive skin, even when applied
to fabric worn or slept in on a daily basis.
Medline plans to roll out HaloShield-treated hospital sheets,
pillowcases, scrubs and gowns in the second quarter of 2004.
The terms of the contract call for Medline to pay Vanson HaloSource
a royalty, and grants Medline exclusive rights for North and
South America to use HaloShield in hospital sheets, pillowcases,
scrubs and gowns.
In addition to HaloShield Fabri-Kote for textiles and non-wovens,
Vanson HaloSource produces a range of antimicrobial applications,
including Hygieni-Kote coatings for hard surfaces and Poli- Kote
components for paints.
About Vanson HaloSource Vanson HaloSource is
a bioscience company that employs chitin/chitosan- and N-halamine-
based technologies to create innovative solutions for a wide
range of customer applications. With facilities in Redmond
and Raymond, Wash., the company combines expertise from chemists,
biochemists and microbiologists to manufacture products and ingredients
to serve the water treatment, biomedical, home and personal care
markets. It leverages cutting-edge processes to refine
chitin and chitosan for water-clarification and various consumer
products. With N-halamine technology, the company is developing
water purification devices, as well as coatings that extend the
power of chlorine for textiles and hard surfaces and components
for paints to improve sanitation in healthcare and industrial
settings, homes, and a multitude of other environments. The company
investors include Alexander Hutton Venture Partners, and Buerk
Craig Victor LLC as well as other institutional and private investors. More
information is available at www.vanson.com.
About Medline Medline is ISO 9001, EN
46001 registered and FDA QSR compliant, the most stringent international
standards for producing quality products. As a leading supplier
of quality products, Medline is asked to serve on major industry
quality committees to develop guidelines and standards for medical
product use. Some of these organizations include the FDA Midwest
Steering Committee, AAMI Sterilization and Packaging Committee
and the various ASTM committees.
Medline was founded in 1966 but the company’s roots in
health care date back to 1910 when it was a garment manufacturer.
Headquartered in Mundelein, Illinois, Medline is a leading direct
supplier of medical products and equipment to the health care
industry. Based on sales of over $1.45 billion in 2002, Medline
is the largest privately held national manufacturer and distributor
of medical supplies in the United States. The company has more
than 700 dedicated sales representatives nationwide to support
its broad product line and cost management services. Medline
distributes over 100,000 products to hospitals, extended care
facilities, surgery centers, hospital laundries, home care dealers
and agencies and other alternate site markets from its 27 distribution
centers in the U.S. With six manufacturing facilities in North
America, Medline manufactures many of the products it sells.
More information about Medline can be found at www.medline.com.
