The development of a new, highly-efficacious, 100% natural, anti-viral active ingredient

Despite rapid advances in healthcare and medical technology, viruses continue to pose a major threat to human, animal and plant health, costing economies hundreds of billions each year. Easily transmitted and immune to antibiotics, viruses (particularly non-enveloped) such as Norovirus, Polio virus and Adenovirus are very difficult to eradicate and even more expensive to treat through a limited number of antiviral solutions (£53.9bn global spend by 2025 [Grandview Research][0]). Norovirus alone kills 219k people per annum and sickens nearly 700m globally, costing £44bn per year in healthcare and lost productivity (£115m NHS cost pa) ([Telegraph][1]). Furthermore, they are becoming increasingly resistant to the current antiviral agents.

Leading state of the art antiviral solutions on the market are either based upon bleach (5% active, synthetic, corrosives, hazardous to touch) or ethanol (c60% active, synthesised, requires high concentration, short-lasting benefit, dries skin out).

Working in close partnership with the Department of Virology at Manchester University and based upon 4 years of research, we intend to explore and harness the highly efficacious properties of seaweed as a new, 100% natural, sustainable antiviral active ingredient for cleaning products (medium term) and medicines (long term).

[0]: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-antiviral-drugs-market
[1]: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/26/norovirus-costs-the-world-some-44-billion-per-year-says-new-stud/