PHARM2FARM
A new anti-viral mask which kills 99.9% of Covid-19 virus within five minutes of contact has been launched today – offering an unparalleled level of protection against viruses not just for those around them but for the wearer too.
Aimed at all types of industry, from hospital and care homes, to schools, to the retail & leisure industries, Pro-Larva differs from conventional masks because, as well as protecting those around the wearer, it protects the wearer themselves, using revolutionary copper nanoparticle technology developed here in the UK.
Antony Legge, Chairman of the parent company Pharm2Farm explains: “Conventional surgical-type TR2 masks only block virus from exiting the mask – they don’t have an active mechanism for killing it once it’s trapped in the mask. Pro-Larva has been designed to use existing barrier technology but also to combine it with α-virion™, a copper nanoparticle technology that kills 99.9% of the virus once it is trapped in the mask.”
This viricidal layer is effective for up to seven hours. Current surgical masks are only effective for around two hours, which requires health care professionals in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) to wear between 4-10 masks per day.
Because of Pro-Larva’s longer effective life this greatly reduces the number of masks required, therefore reducing costs for the hospital or care home. Pro-Larva is also self-sterilising – killing Covid-19 on contact means there is no infection risk from discarded masks after use, removing any potential biohazard.
The effectiveness of the mask against the coronavirus and Influenza has been tested by an independent laboratory and a leading UK university. It has also received European regulatory approval and carries a CE mark, meaning it has been independently reviewed.
The Pro-Larva idea was developed by scientists at Pharm2Farm led by Dr Gareth Cave. Pharm2Farm recently installed a face mask production line in Nottingham, UK and are working with European and global face mask manufacturers to scale-up the supply of Pro-Larva to meet demand.
Dr Gareth Cave, founder of the technology and Pharm2Farm, added: “Helping healthcare professionals protect themselves, their co-workers and patients is very important, and we are keen to support the NHS. However, there are many other categories of frontline workers we are looking to engage with – from schools to care home workers, to the retail and leisure industries – who could benefit from this next generation mask.”
-Ends-
Notes to Editors
About Pharm2Farm
Pharm2Farm is a VC backed Nottingham Trent University spin-out which provides advanced nanoparticle-based solutions for plant, animal and human care through a patented novel production process. For more information, please visit the website: www.pharm2farm.org
About the Pro-Larva mask
The 4 ply anti-viral disposable medical mask from Pharm2Farm Ltd is proven to kill up to 99.9% of coronaviruses and 90% of influenza for up to 7 hours. The mask is splash resistant with a melt blown filter and hypoallergenic layers and uses Pharm2Farm’s proprietary α-virion™ virucidal technology, featuring copper nanoparticles. The Pro-Larva mask is CE marked and its α-virion™ layer has been certified to ISO 18184 standards. ISO 18184 is a standard protocol to quantify the antiviral properties of textile materials. For more information about Pro-Larva mask, its features and suppliers, please visit: https://pro-larva.com/
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210311005101/en/
Link:
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Axelspace: Notice of Signing a Service contract for In-Orbit Demonstration with Pale Blue, Inc.22.12.2025 10:00:00 CET | Press release
Axelspace Corporation (“Axelspace”), a leading microsatellite company committed to making “Space within Your Reach,” has entered into a service agreement with Pale Blue Inc. (“Pale Blue”), a company that develops, manufactures, and sells thrusters (engines) for small satellites, for an in-orbit demonstration, as detailed below. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251219321165/en/ Jun Asakawa, Co-founder & CEO of Pale Blue (left in photo) and Yuya Nakamura, President and CEO of Axelspace Axelspace provides AxelLiner Laboratory (AL Lab), a new service originating from the AxelLiner business that is specialized in in-orbit demonstration of space components. Under this contract, an in-orbit demonstration of a fast-start Hall thruster developed by Pale Blue is scheduled to be conducted in 2027. Nonetheless, conducting in-orbit demonstrations in a short period of time is known to be a significant challenge due to the in
Axelspace Signing Agreement on a Multi-Launch Arrangement and the Launch of New Satellites with Exolaunch22.12.2025 10:00:00 CET | Press release
Axelspace Corporation (“Axelspace”), a leading microsatellite company committed to making “Space within Your Reach,” is pleased to announce a multi-launch agreement (MLA) with Exolaunch, a global launch integrator and leader in launch mission management, satellite integration and satellite deployment technologies. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251219038364/en/ The Multi-Launch Agreement will accelerate the growth of Axelspace. In particular, one satellite scheduled for launch under the new Agreement will be used in the AxelLiner business’s in-orbit demonstration service, “AxelLiner Laboratory”. Exolaunch has already secured launches for eight (8) Axelspace’s satellites on the upcoming missions. Axelspace provides AxelLiner Laboratory (AL Lab), a new service originating from the AxelLiner business that is specialized in in-orbit demonstration of space components. Nonetheless, conducting in-orbit demonstration
Zambon Biotech Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 3b ADIP Clinical Study of IPX203 in Parkinson’s Disease22.12.2025 10:00:00 CET | Press release
Zambon Biotech, a specialized biotech company part of the Zambon group that aims to build a scientifically robust and commercially viable portfolio of innovative patient-oriented drugs through the scouting, acquisition, licensing and development of new molecules, today announced that the first participant with advanced Parkinson’s disease has been enrolled in the European Phase 3b ADIP (IPX203 in Advanced Parkinson’s disease) study, which is planned to evaluate the efficacy and safety of IPX203 versus immediate-release (IR) levodopa/carbidopa (LD/CD) in a regimen which has not yet been the focus of a Phase 3 trial. IPX203 is a novel, oral modified-release formulation of LD/CD designed for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, the fastest growing neurological condition in the world according to the World Health Organization1. IPX203 contains immediate-release granules and extended-release beads, providing both a rapid onset of action and a longer duration of benefit, sustaining the levo
Pimicotinib Approved as Systemic Treatment in China for Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor22.12.2025 09:00:00 CET | Press release
First regulatory approval in the world for pimicotinib based on positive data from global Phase 3 MANEUVER studyIn MANEUVER, pimicotinib significantly improved objective response rate at week 25 (54% vs. 3.2% for placebo), while providing clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvements across all patient-reported outcomesWith longer-term follow-up, 3 out of 4 patients treated with pimicotinib achieved response per RECIST v1.1, and treatment continued to be well-toleratedApproval strengthens Merck’s leadership in rare tumors, with additional ongoing regulatory filings for pimicotinib underway globally Merck, a leading science and technology company, announced today that following Priority Review, the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved pimicotinib for the treatment of adult patients with symptomatic tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) for which surgical resection will potentially cause functional limitation or relatively severe morbidity.
Incyte Japan Announces Approval of Minjuvi® (tafasitamab) in Combination with Rituximab and Lenalidomide for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Follicular Lymphoma22.12.2025 08:44:00 CET | Press release
Incyte Biosciences Japan G.K. today announced approval from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for Minjuvi® (tafasitamab) in combination with rituximab and lenalidomide for adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (2L+ FL). “Today's approval of Minjuvi in combination with rituximab and lenalidomide marks a significant milestone as the first dual-targeted CD19 and CD20 immunotherapy combination for relapsed or refractory FL in Japan,” said Yasuyuki Ishida, General Manager, Incyte Biosciences Japan. “By improving progression-free survival, Minjuvi offers a chemotherapy-free option for eligible patients with relapsed or refractory disease. This approval underscores our commitment to bridging critical treatment gaps to patients and families affected by this challenging disease in Japan.” The approval is based on the pivotal Phase 3 inMIND trial, which enrolled 654 adult patients, including patients based in Japan. The study demonstrated that Minjuvi
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom
