VITEX S.A. develops paint technology with 99% virucidal activity against SARS-CoV-2

Vitex SA has announced a breakthrough in hygienic coatings with the VAIRO^TM Healthcare Technology.

A functional wall paint based on VAIRO Healthcare Technology has been tested and found to be effective against human coronaviruses and SARS-CoV2 as well, after four hours contact, the company said. VAIRO beneficially increases the defense against virus transmission over the painted surfaces and inhibits the bacteria growth over them.

According to VITEX, the functional wall paint with VAIRO unfolds a slippery properly modified hydrophilic coating surface, which proves inhospitable for viruses and bacteria.

"Our R&D scientists are very proud having developed this advanced functional paint technology, using high engineered tailor-made polymers, smart antimicrobials and production processes. We are excited about the results and look forward to offering real added value solutions, by applying VAIRO Healthcare technology in several products for different substrates,” said Aristoteles Nikolakopoulos R&D Director, VITEX SA.

Armodios Yannidis Chief Executive Officer, VITEX SA added: "Greeks have been inventive and driven by excellence from the ancient times. Our aim is to embrace such values in modern times, thus, promoting our peoples’ ingenuity and providing our stakeholders with joy when they sail with us on a colourful journey. A journey to sustainability with a purpose to provide consumers with the best that can be enclosed in a thin film of dry paint”.

According to VITEX, extensive testing conducted in European laboratories included successful trials considering between 30min up to 48hr contact against several viruses like Phi6 surrogate of coronaviruses (double stranded RNA enveloped), MS2 surrogate of norovirus (linear single stranded RNA non-enveloped), Human corona virus OC43 (type beta), Human corona virus 229E (type alpha) and SARS-CoV2 (Isolate England/02/2020) the virus that causes COVID-19.

Successful testing was performed also with bacteria like E. coli, St. Aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus hirae, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. Using test methods based on standards ISO 21702:2019, ISO 22196:2011 and OECD proposed practices for testing efficacy of biocide treated articles (ENV/JM/MONO (2018) 20:2019), painted surfaces were shown to reduce 99% – 99.99% of several viruses and bacteria, the company said.

Paints with VAIRO™ will be available for sale from VITEX S.A upon national authorisation – notification procedures in EU. It is already suitable for specific non-EU markets and has already been registered in some EU countries.