eSense-Lab receives encouraging results from research in Israel on proprietary blend terpene profile TRP-ENV

eSense-Lab (ASX:ESE) is encouraged by results from further tests on its proprietary blend terpene profile, TRP-ENV, undertaken in Israel to determine antiviral activity against HCoV-OC43 corona strain virus when combined with lower levels of ethanol than have previously been tested. The tests, conducted as part of a research agreement with the Central Virology Lab of the Ministry of Health in Sheba Medical Center (MOH), demonstrated an immediate neutralisation of HCov-OC43. Stage 2-Part 1 trial work demonstrated that TRP-ENV was at least as effective as 70% ethanol. HCov-OC43 is a weak strain of human coronavirus which represents an accepted surrogate to evaluate activity of substances against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. “Commercialising products” eSense global CEO Yoav Elishoov said: “Having received these promising results, eSense will now focus on determining the right partners for commercialisation of products. “The company is concentrating its efforts on delivering these products to the market as soon as possible, and will be using every effort to push its commercialisation strategy forward.” Study goals This study was conducted as part of eSense-Lab's commercial goal to develop a superior, organic, dominant sanitiser product that provides added protection against bacteria and viruses, while reducing its ethanol content, which is known for its harmful side effects to the skin and its flammability risks. The Stage 2-Part 1 Trial follows a conclusive result previously announced last November that which showed no superior anti-viral contribution of TRP-ENV to ethanol <70%. This new trial was conducted in the presence of a lower ethanol level than was previously tested (ethanol<<70%), which resulted in encouraging anti-viral activity of TRP-ENV in the presence of ethanol <<70%, which was superior to the relevant ethanol <<70% alone. The neutralisation was shown to be far superior to ethanol <<70% alone, as measured under two viral load conditions (acceptable load vs stringent load). Following these results, an appropriate formula development will be implemented with TRP-ENV and ethanol for both hand and surface sanitisers, to open new commercialisation options to drive such products into the market. Stage 2-Part 2 trial The second part of these tests (stage 2-part 2 trial) included an evaluation of anti-viral properties of a new proprietary terpene blend developed for BetterAir Ltd. BetterAir is a commercial company that already sells a unique bacterial based air and surface sanitising technology. A proprietary terpene blend, termed TRP-BIO, was specifically designed to be tolerated by the unique BetterAir bacterial population. The aim of stage 2-part 2, also undertaken by MOH, was to generate feasibility data that would bridge into a commercial negotiation between ESE and BetterAir. This new proprietary blend has shown a certain anti-viral effect against HCov-OC43 which was shown only after incubation for a period of 30 and 60 minutes in the presence of BetterAir’s bacteria. Nevertheless, when TRPBIO was tested in the presence of an intermediate compound, its effect was slightly more robust, demonstrating a mild anti-viral activity after three minutes, which was maintained across all time intervals. These results provide feasibility to use this unique terpene combination as an additive substance to BetterAir’s sanitising technology, which is already well distributed across Europe and USA. The company is now looking to schedule further discussions with BetterAir to plan next steps with respect to further testing (if required), and to determine a potential business model.