Mexican Health Ministry And LANXESS Collaborate To Combat A(H1N1) Flu

Singapore, 6 May 2009 - German specialty chemicals group LANXESS is working with a commission from the Mexican health ministry to provide possible solutions to the swine flu outbreak that has swept through Mexico, with cases currently reported in many other countries worldwide. The company is providing technical information and efficacy studies on its Preventol® CD 601 disinfectant as a possible solution to the problem.

The Preventol® CD 601 disinfectant offers a unique combination of three active ingredients that combine to form a product with very good bactericidal, fungicidal and virucidal effectiveness, and has been proven to be highly effective in combating enveloped viruses like the H5N1 avian flu virus. It has been determined that the virus strain responsible for the swine influenza is A (H1N1), which belongs to the family Orthomixoviridae, the same family as the avian flu.

“LANXESS will work hand-in-hand with the Mexican authorities to provide the highest standards of hygiene needed to combat the outbreak,” said Sébastien Masson, Managing Director of LANXESS, S.A. de C.V., in Mexico.

LANXESS is currently conducting laboratory testing to determine the Preventol® CD 601 disinfectant’s effectiveness on this specific virus strain, and the recommended dosages. Testing is expected to be completed shortly, and if found to be effective, the product will be considered for use as a surface disinfectant in hospitals, schools, offices and other public facilities in Mexico. The product meets the applicable regulations for farm hygiene and public facilities in Mexico, and is registered for use in many other countries. LANXESS has treated all surfaces at its offices and sites in Mexico with Preventol® CD 601.

“The Preventol® CD 601 product can effectively combat germs, bacteria and viruses in places, where hygiene is critical,” said Dietmar Schlegel, Head of Marketing Disinfection, LANXESS Material Protection Products business unit. “The product has not only proven effective against the avian flu virus in 2006 but is also expected to help reduce the dangers of the current swine flu virus in public places and healthcare facilities.”

Other products that have proven successful for many years in professional disinfection are the phenolic derivatives Preventol® O extra, Preventol® CMK and Preventol® BP. In addition, Preventol® SB is the leading active ingredient in antibacterial soaps.

The Material Protection Products business unit (MPP) markets a wide range of preservatives and biocides for almost all sectors of industry, including wood protection, paints and coatings, construction, health and personal care products, and the food industry. MPP belongs to LANXESS’s Performance Chemicals segment, which achieved sales of EUR 1.93 billion in 2008.

For more information on the Preventol® product line, visit http://www.protectedbypreventol.com.

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 6.58 billion in 2008 and currently around 14,800 employees in 21 countries. The company is represented at 44 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals. More information at http://www.lanxessgoesasia.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by LANXESS AG management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Maggie Tan
Corporate Communications
LANXESS Pte Ltd
9 Benoi Sector, Singapore 629844
Tel       (65) 6725 5888
Direct   (65) 6725 5821
Fax      (65) 6264 5329
Email   maggie.tan@lanxess.com
Web: http://www.lanxess.com/ , http://www.lanxessgoesasia.com/

This release was published on openPR.