Remote Monitored Systems PLC (LON:RMS) shares doubled on Wednesday after saying its antiviral face masks will begin production in a matter of weeks, with US health authorities among those still pushing for increased use of masks during the coronavirus pandemic.
Masks made by Pharm 2 Farm Ltd, a wholly-owned RMS subsidiary since the acquisition from Braveheart Investment Group PLC (LON:BRH) was completed last week, are expected to go into production later this month and be commercially available from December for healthcare, transport and food service industries initially.
Pharm 2 Farm is focusing on bringing its mask to market as soon as possible, RMS said, with directors expecting a mask production line will be delivered and installed in its clean room facility at BioCity Nottingham at the end of this month and that production can begin shortly thereafter.
Pharm 2 Farm, which was spun out of Nottingham Trent University into a company led by the man behind the research, Dr Gareth Cave, uses a patented process to produce and functionalise nanoparticles for a range of human, crop and animal health benefits.
P2F has developed a five-layer mask with an antiviral inner layer that incorporates nano-copper created using a patented process developed by Dr Cave.
These masks have a filtration efficiency of 99.98% and have been shown in tests from two independent labs to be highly effective at killing more than 90% of influenza and coronavirus over seven hours, and have been certified to ISO 18184 standards.
While current conventional surgical masks block the virus, it can remain on or in the fabric of the mask while being worn and after it has been disposed of.
“Our new antiviral mask has been designed to utilise the existing barrier technology and combine it with our nanotechnology to kill the virus once it is trapped there,” Dr Cave explains.
“We’ve added the barrier layer to both sides of the mask so not only does it protect the wearer but also those around. By killing the virus on contact, it also means that the used face mask can be safely disposed of and not be a potential source of passive transfer.”
RMS, which is now 34.08% owned by Braveheart Investment and 19.35% by Dr Cave, also noted that despite the positive trial results of a vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, the roll out of a vaccine will not lessen demand now and in the coming months for the new viricidal mask.
RMS also noted and welcomed the new scientific brief released yesterday by the US Centre for Disease Control expanding on the benefits of masks for both the wearer and the community.
RMS shares spiked 105% to 2.25p not long after midday on Wednesday.
