| Vanson HaloSource Inks Deal to License HaloShieldTM to
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.
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