US Kraton shares jump 16%; seeks approval for coronavirus-sterilising polymer

HOUSTON (ICIS)–US-listed shares of Kraton rose by nearly 16% on Thursday after the company announced that it was seeking approval from regulators for a new sulphonated polymer that has been shown to quickly inactivate the coronavirus.

Kraton wants to sell the polymer under the brand name BIAXAM.

The company plans to expand product testing and seek approval from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for BIAXAM to be used as a durable, long-lasting disinfectant. Kraton is also seeking registration and approval for BIAXAM in other countries.

The material could be used as a coating for face shields and other personal protective equipment (PPE), it said. It could also be used on door handles, elevator buttons, surfaces on public transportation and cases for cell phones. Another use is replaceable peel-and-stick films.

“Currently there are no EPA approved long-lasting disinfectants, so this technology is truly extraordinary,” said Vijay Mhetar, Kraton’s chief technology officer.

“We believe the EPA would approve BIAXAM for the US market and allow us to market the solution due to the novel anti-microbial properties it has demonstrated,” he said.

Until Kraton gets EPA approval, BIAXAM cannot be sold, marketed or distributed as a disinfectant that repels or kills the coronavirus or other microorganisms, the company said. It expects BIAXAM to be commercially available shortly.

Kraton had been developing the product for other applications before the pandemic, said Kevin Fogarty, CEO.

Kraaton makes pine-chemicals and styrene block copolymers.