Dallas-based Allied BioScience has been on the cutting edge of innovation throughout the pandemic. In April, the biotech company was among Lydia Partners’ initial round of multimillion-dollar investments, and in May, its antimicrobial coating was said to improve patient outcomes and reduce environmental contamination.

Now, Allied BioScience is once again at the forefront.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today approved the first and only surface coating for continuous protection against COVID-19 with a single application. The antimicrobial coating is called SurfaceWise2—and it’s from Allied BioScience.

The EPA approved Allied BioScience’s public health emergency exemption waiver, which was submitted by the Texas Department of Agriculture. It allows for Texas-based customers to use SurfaceWise2 against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that caused the COVID-19 healthcare outbreak).

According to a statement, the exemption the Texas Department of Agriculture received from the EPA means Texas is “the first state in which a Section 18 emergency waiver for SurfaceWise2 has been approved.” But, Allied BioScience is currently pursuing the same emergency waiver across all 50 states.

“The EPA approval clears the way to begin effectively protecting consumers against COVID-19 as the only solution proven to provide long-term, non-toxic surface protection from the virus,” Michael Ruley, CEO of Allied BioScience, said in a statement. “We have been eager to bring our product to market and look forward to partnering with leading Texas-based companies to keep Texans safe in the fight against COVID-19.”

Allied BioScience has already begun forming those partnerships, one of the first being a North Texas neighbor: American Airlines.

In partnering with Allied BioScience, the Fort Worth-headquartered airline company will begin applying SurfaceWise2 on aircraft as an upgrade to its “Clean Commitment.” SurfaceWise2, an electrostatic spraying solution, will be used on surfaces inside American’s aircraft in the next few months and eventually throughout its entire fleet, including American Eagle regional partners.

It will become part of American’s multi-tiered cleaning and safety program, in addition to enhanced aircraft cleaning before mainline flights and a deeper overnight cleaning.

“The American Airlines Clean Commitment is our promise that we’re taking bold measures and using the latest products and technology to help ensure our customers’ well-being when they travel with us,” David Seymour, American’s COO, said in a statement. “Thanks to rigorous evaluations conducted by the experienced professionals at the EPA, the American Airlines team and Allied BioScience, our multi-tiered program will become even stronger at safeguarding our customers and team members from virus such as coronavirus and the flu.”

[Photo: Courtesy Allied BioScience]

So far, SurfaceWise2 is the first and only long-lasting product approved by the EPA to help fight the spread of the novel coronavirus.

SurfaceWise2 is a continuously active surface coating with properties that Allied BioScience said continuously kill 99.9 percent of viruses on surfaces. The coating, which is non-toxic, is applied with an electrostatic spray that aims to provide always-on protection on treated surfaces.

Essentially, SurfaceWise2 is creating a “protective invisible layer” that can physically break down and kill virus cells, according to experts. Dr. Charles Gerba, an infectious disease expert, found SurfaceWise2 to be effective against the coronavirus during independent lab studies that were conducted ahead of the emergency waiver’s approval.

The findings are especially important given the nature of a close, shared environment, like an aircraft. When combined with facial coverings, cleaning protocols, and HEPA filters, SurfaceWise2 will assist in making the American Airlines travel experience safer for those on board.

“[SurfaceWise2] helps protect passengers and crew members against the transmission of coronavirus via surfaces,” Dr. Gerba said, “particularly on high-touch areas such as seats, armrests, tray tables and overhead bin doors.”

American is the first U.S. airline to deploy SurfaceWise2 from Allied BioScience. American said it worked closely with the EPA and Allied on getting SurfaceWise2 approved.

“SurfaceWise2’s long-lasting defense provides a layer of protection against viruses not offered by any other solutions on the market,” Maha El-Sayed, Allied BioScience’s chief science officer, said in a statement. “We look forward to also seeing SurfaceWise2 used in offices, schools, gymnasiums and other high-traffic areas to support the nation in safely reopening.”

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