Ox-B Announces Laboratory at LETC

( Baton Rouge, LA / June 20, 2006) — Ox-B, a Louisiana based start-up technology firm, formed to both manufacture and market a new and unique biocide with far reaching applications, has announced the opening of its laboratory at the new Louisiana Emerging Technology Center.  Ox-B is the most recent wet-lab tenant to locate at the LETC which opened in November of 2005.

Ox-B has licensed a patent developed by professor Donal F. Day, Ph.D., at the Audubon Sugar Institute, a part of the LSU AgCenter.  Dr. Day, a microbiologist with Louisiana State University for the last 27 years, and Dr. Giovanna DeQuerioz have jointly developed a biocide that quickly and effectively kills biological agents.  As the biocide is a cold sterilant, it can be used safely and easily in a wide variety of situations. Not only can the Ox-B biocide be utilized to eliminate the threat of disease-causing bacteria and viruses, but its portability and effectiveness also makes it an ideal product to more easily combat potential security threats, like anthrax.  The biocide is rapidly effective against anthrax spores, while existing methodologies (like those utilized to disinfect the Hart Senate Building) call for long term evacuation of a site, germination of the spores, and then application of toxic chlorine dioxide gas.  This treatment is cumbersome, labor and time intensive, more expensive and less effective than use of the Ox-B biocide.

In addition to the Defense and Homeland Security potential of this product, it has also proven extremely effective on the dense mold that was such a problem in the Gulf South in the wake of the hurricanes of 2005.   “This biocide has the ability to kill mold more effectively than products currently on the market,” says Day.  “It could enhance or replace mold treatments being used in New Orleans and the Gulf coast impacted by Hurricane Katrina.” 

Ox-B also has to potential to revolutionize the medical field by drastically reducing the incidence of nosocomial (hospital acquired) infections, a growing problem for physicians and medical facilities throughout the world.  These hospital acquired infections cause as many deaths in the Unites States as breast cancer, automobile accidents and AIDS combined, approximately 90,000 deaths per year. One out of every twenty people hospitalized will get an infection, and the threat continues to grow as the incidence of antibiotic resistant bacteria rises.

As a portable, safe, and extremely effective sterilant Ox-B could be used to prevent nosocomial infections by eradicating biological entities on surgical equipment and other hospital supplies, as well as those lingering on dental equipment, to name a few applications. Research is being conducted as to the potential uses of the Ox-B biocide in combating the spread of the emerging threat of avian flu.

Local investors have recognized the multi-faceted potential of Dr. Day’s research and Brit Davidson, the president of Ox-B, feels that, “the potential markets and functions for this technology are wide-open, encompassing both industrial and medical uses.  Ox-B not only has homeland security and military applications, but also is a valuable medical/healthcare safety product, and could serve as a mass market mold treatment.  The technology has the potential to dramatically impact how we look at the control of bacterial contamination.”

Ox-B has leased a wet-lab research suite in the recently completed Louisiana Emerging Technology Center (LETC) on the LSU campus which provides wet lab facilities and nurtures start-up companies focused on life sciences research and production.  Its mission particularly addresses technologies developed in one of the six state-wide Louisiana State University research facilities.  “Ox-B is an excellent addition to the life science entrepreneurial companies we already house at the LETC,” said Arthur Cooper, Executive Director of the Louisiana Emerging Technology Center.  “Its technology was developed at a LSU research facility, funded by private investors to create a small biotech company, enhancing science that could benefit our other tenants and the biotechnology industry in the state and the nation.  Plus, Ox-B will help create additional quality jobs in Louisiana…that’s exactly why the state has invested in this wet lab.”

 As a tenant of The Louisiana Emerging Technologies Center, Ox-B will be provided its private wet lab facility and office space, as well as access to a shared lab with basic lab equipment such as an autoclave, freezers, etc.  LETC will also provide access to business and technical assistance, funding sources, legal resources and professional consulting, plus administrative staff and services.

The Louisiana Emerging Technology Center was established and funded by the Louisiana Legislature to support the developing biotech industry in the state.