Quigley's QR-441 compound blocks, deactivates flu virus in face masks

By Angela McDaniels

Seattle, Dec. 1 - The Quigley Corp. said study findings show that respiratory mask air filters impregnated with QR-441, a compound produced by subsidiary Quigley Pharma, protect against the avian and human influenza viruses.

The QR-441 impregnated masks blocked up to 99% of viruses, the company said. The masks not treated with QR-441 blocked up to 90%.

More important and significant findings show that the QR-441 compound deactivated 95.1% to 98.7% of live viruses that passed through the filters, the company said.

The study took place at the University of London under the direction of John Oxford and Rob Lambkin.

"If there is an outbreak of Avian flu in our U.S. human population, initially it will be easier to distribute the formula as a spray to be used on the exterior of commercially available masks than to develop and distribute a new style mask using the compound," said Charles A. Phillips, Quigley Pharma senior vice president, in a company news release.

"In an emergency situation, the spray formula's increased ability to stop the virus from penetrating these masks may help reduce viral transmission. In addition, we can develop new types of 'active' masks utilizing the same technology designed for viral use."

Availability of this spray to the public could be insured through Quigley's extensive retail distribution system for its Cold-Eeze product already in place, the company said.

Quigley said it is pursuing several development plans with government agencies and private organizations for approval of the product for use by government health care and industry poultry workers during an avian influenza outbreak, for outbreak preparedness programs and for Homeland Security applications for high-risk situations.

The compound could be applied to emergency medical masks, such as surgical or procedure masks, as well as isolation face masks, the company said.

Quigley is a natural health medical science company based in Doylestown, Pa.

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