BioProgress: Update on MRSA containment system and other patent filings

25 May 2006
Kerry Parker
CEO

Product news

BioProgress plc (AIM: BPRG; NASDAQ: BPRG), the speciality pharma and healthcare company, announces that its subsidiary BioProgress Technology Limited has filed a UK patent application for the use of its XGEL™ film system technology in a waste containment system to help prevent the spread of MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) in hospitals.

The development of the containment system was assisted by the Company’s Advisory Board, which has also been involved with making recommendations for MRSA prevention systems for use across the NHS. The Company will explore whether there are additional areas in which the containment system or the XGEL™ film technology could be of use within the medical device sector.

The Company further announces that BioProgress Technology Limited has filed UK patent applications covering additional innovative developments to its TABWRAP™ encapsulation technology. The Company also continues to expand its patent families by filing applications in numerous international territories which claim priority from existing applications filed in the UK or through the Patent Cooperation Treaty route. At present, the BioProgress group owns 40 granted patents in 31 different patent families.

Richard Trevillion, CEO commented: “The Company continues to apply for patents to protect relevant commercial applications of its novel XGEL™ systems, whilst at the same time executing its growth as a speciality pharma and healthcare company. With respect to the MRSA prevention system, this is an endorsement of our market-led approach and illustrates how the non-ingestible containment side of our business can have real commercial advantages. We believe the system to be simple, not adding further complexity to the operating theatre, and helping to reduce the risk of infection. This IP filing is an example of how the Company’s core IP has applications in pharmaceutical and medical device markets.”

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