This month Under Armour debuted a new version of their best selling men’s boxer jock featuring Cupron’s antifungal technology. The boxer jock is available in sizes from XS-5XL and a variety of colors from various retail outlets selling the UA brand. The product description:

Cupron AntiFungal Pro Fibers kill 99.9% of the jock itch fungus (T. mentagrophtes) after 12 hours of contact with fibers. Lightweight, smooth HeatGear fabric & articulated mesh fly panel. 4-way stretch construction moves better in every direction. Material wicks sweat & dries really fast.

FRESNO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Netafim USA, the leading provider of innovative drip irrigation solutions for landscape and agriculture applications, announced today that its industry-leading Techline HCVXR landscape dripline has won the 2016 Irrigation Show People’s Choice Award in the Landscape Irrigation category of the New Product Contest. The People’s Choice award, given annually since 2012, recognizes the most innovative products released in the last 12 months and is voted on by attendees at the Irrigation Association Show and Education Conference, which was held this year in Las Vegas from December 5-8, 2016.

“We’re delighted to be recognized by the Irrigation Association and industry colleagues for HCVXR, as it sets a new standard for innovation with its unparalleled features, functions, and attributes, many of which are found in Netafim’s agricultural-grade driplines”

The latest addition to the best-selling line of landscape dripline, Netafim’s Techline HCVXR is the only landscape dripline that infuses Cupron® copper oxide directly into the mold of each emitter to provide a long lasting root barrier for subsurface drip irrigation systems. By embedding copper oxide into the material used to create each emitter during the manufacturing process, the dripline’s root resistant properties will not wash off or migrate out of the emitter after years of use.

“Cupron has occupied office space for six years in the Virginia Biotechnology Park’s downtown campus, which includes an incubator space for startup companies in advanced technology.

Cupron is moving from a 2,000-square-foot office at the Biotech Center to a facility in the Interport Business Park near Richmond International Airport. The facility has 3,000 square feet of office space and 11,000 square feet of warehouse space, according to an announcement Wednesday from the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park.

In a statement, Cupron’s chief executive officer, Chris Andrews, said the company’s time working at the Biotechnology Park has been “invaluable.”

“Now, as we transition from clinical to commercial deployment on a broad scale and geographies, Cupron needs to occupy its own commercial space with expanded logistical capabilities,” Andrews said.

“It is a tremendous milestone for Cupron, and we appreciate all of the support from the Research Park that has been critical to getting us here,” he said.”

Cupron and NASA are partnering to test the effectiveness of antimicrobial textiles in a simulated space environment over a 120-day period as part of NASA’s HI-SEAS program. Cupron will be supplying a head-to-toe range of Cupron-enhanced garments to help determine if antimicrobial textiles can reduce bacterial cross-contamination and limit the amount of space needed to store disposable garments – and their subsequent waste – such as socks and first-layer clothing.

NASA’s HI-SEAS program (Hawai’i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation) is designed to identify many of the risks associated with long-term space exploration and research solutions through a series of missions in a controlled setting here on Earth. The first mission will involve a six-person crew living in the habitat for 120 days under Mars-exploration conditions (e.g. with communication latencies and blackouts, in close quarters, under strict water-use rules, etc.).
One of the HI-SEAS researchers, Dr. Yajaira Sierra Sastre, is conducting a microbiological analysis of the habitat environment, including the evaluation of commercial, off-the-shelf products representing the latest in textile , as part of the HI-SEAS mission. After researching existing available products, Dr. Sastre identified Cupron’s products as the ideal candidates for her study.

For more information click here.

Company’s fibers demonstrate ability to kill 99.99% of athlete’s foot cause in 12 hours

Cupron, creator of a copper-based antimicrobial technology, announced today that its pioneering technology has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval to make a first-of-its-kind Public Health Claim.  This is the third EPA Public Health Claim awarded to Cupron and the first highlighting the unique anti-fungal capability of Cupron’s copper-based technology.

In awarding the Public Health Claim, the EPA found that Cupron’s copper-enhanced textile material can kill Trichophyton mentagrophytes, the active fungus in athlete’s foot, by more than 99.9% after 12 hours of contact with the fiber.  The unique Public Health Claim covers the use of Cupron anti-fungal fibers in a variety of settings, including socks, shoe inserts and bathmats.  The EPA designation allows for a variety of marketing claims (see examples below) that will be used by Cupron and Cupron Enhanced partner products beginning in the near future.

“Fungal skin infections such as athlete’s foot are a common and irritating affliction, a condition that has been difficult to prevent and treat successfully,” said Alastair Monk, Cupron Director of Clinical and Scientific Affairs.  “This Public Health Claim by the EPA validates the uniqueness and effectiveness of Cupron’s copper-based fiber technology in killing nearly 100% of the underlying fungal cause of athlete’s foot. This technology significantly expands the options available for foot care.”

Athlete’s foot is a contagious fungal infection of the foot that can cause itching, stinging and burning and can be spread by contact with an infected person, their socks, shoes and contaminated surfaces.  Skin fungal infections afflict an estimated 10% to 20% of the U.S. population (between 29 to 59 million individuals) at least once in any given year, with athlete’s foot being the most common[1].   It also has been estimated that up to 70% of the world’s population will experience a cutaneous fungal infection at some point in their lives[2], and 45% of those with athlete’s foot will have recurrent episodes for more than 10 years[3].

In order to submit these claims to the EPA, the textile had to achieve a 100-percent pass rate
at an independent testing facility under the highest laboratory standards.  The samples were tested with simulated wear conditions, environmental conditions and cleaning protocols.  They also had to maintain their efficacy after repeated exposure.

Cupron developed this material with a range of performance characteristics that provides the mechanical properties of high performance textiles, the aesthetics for design flexibility and high antimicrobial and skin enhancement performance.  Cupron technology is different than other antimicrobial fibers due to its performance as demonstrated by multiple public health claims. Because the Cupron technology is embedded within the fiber itself, the material will not lose its effectiveness over time and wear-and-tear.

Cupron-enhanced socks already are issued to select military organizations around the world because of the anti-fungal qualities they possess that can benefit soldiers in the field for multiple days. In 2010, Cupron supplied the trapped Chilean miners with its anti-fungal socks. Although many of the trapped miners had begun to suffer skin-related issues with their feet, upon receiving the Cupron socks, most of the miners saw these problems resolve within a week of wearing the socks.

“We anticipate announcing in the coming months the specific products that will employ the successfully tested Cupron fiber technology,” said Chris Andrews, Cupron President – Americas.  “Our initial focus will be on socks and marketed broadly to those who may suffer from athlete’s foot. Cupron’s assistance to the trapped Chilean miners in 2010 illustrated the clear health benefits of the Cupron technology. Today, we have regulatory validation of this as well. We are excited by our partner relationships that will soon bring these benefits to consumers around the world.”

Specifically, the following statements are included in the EPA registration:

• Cupron AntiFungal fibers will assist in reducing the spread of T. mentagrophytes (athlete’s foot fungus)
• Cupron AntiFungal fibers will [reduce, inhibit, suppress, kill] 99.9% of T. mentagrophytes (athlete’s foot fungus) after 12 hours of contact with the [socks, bathmats, shoe inserts]
• Cupron AntiFungal fibers will inhibit the propagation and harboring of T. mentagrophytes on [socks, bathmats, shoe inserts]
• Cupron AntiFungal fibers will help to inhibit  the growth of T. mentagrophytes the causative agent of athlete’s foot on [socks, bathmats, shoe inserts]
• Cupron AntiFungal fibers will help to suppress the growth of T. mentagrophytes the fungus that is the causative agent of athlete’s foot on [socks, bathmats, shoe inserts]
• Cupron AntiFungal  fibers will [reduce, inhibit, suppress, kill] 99.9% of the T. mentagrophytes (athlete’s foot fungus) on the [socks, bathmats, shoe inserts]
• Cupron AntiFungal fibers will inhibit the growth  of T. mentagrophytes, athlete’s foot fungus, on [socks, bathmats, shoe inserts]
• Cupron AntiFungal fibers reduce(s) the spread of T. mentagrophytes, athlete’s foot fungus, on the surface of the sock
• Cupron AntiFungal fibers prevent(s) the growth of 99.9% of T. mentagrophytes, athlete’s foot fungus, on the sock
• Cupron AntiFungal fibers will [reduce, inhibit, suppress, kill] 99.9% of T. mentagrophytes, athlete’s foot fungus, on the [sock, bathmat, shoe inserts]
• Cupron AntiFungal fibers significantly reduce(s) 99.9% of T. mentagrophytes, the fungus that causes athlete’s foot on the sock

Cupron is proud to support the United States Deep Caving Team in their 2013 J2 Expedition to the Cueve Cheve in Oaxaca, Mexico. In March 2013, 11 people will go down to  the deepest known cavern in the Western Hemisphere and the world’s 11^th deepest. Their mission is to make a connection with Cueva Cheve that will produce a cave system more than 2 kilometers in depth. The integration of the entire system will produce a 2,597-meter-deep cave and would represent the deepest natural abyss yet discovered.

One of the greatest limitations (time and distance underground) to Deep Caving expeditions arises out of infections from fungal and bacterial pathogens that thrive in these extreme environments. Such infections reduce time underground and in turn the extent to which cave systems can be discovered, explored and mapped. Cupron will supply the team with customized gloves and socks to transform regular products into essential devices that protect their skin through the power of copper. As with the trapped Chilean Miners who got Cupron socks to protect them in the extreme conditions they were in, these products will allow the expeditions to extend their time underground, and make the most of their arduous process of discovery.

We wish the team good luck achieving all their goals in the expedition and of course look forward to seeing them back safe.

The 2013 J2 Expedition will be documented by Discovery Channel.

For more information click here.

Cupron is pleased to announce that Chief Medical Scientist and Virologist, Dr. Gadi Borkow and the Director of Clinical and Scientific Affairs, Dr. Alastair Monk will be presenting at the upcoming Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Genomics Conference in San Antonio, Texas (November 12-14, 2012).

The Clinical Microbiology & Microbial Genomics Conference convenes a diverse range of  large and medium biotech and diagnostics companies, leading universities and clinical microbiology institutions from all over the world.  It is with this impressive backdrop of professionals that four talks will be given about the impact of Cupron’s copper-based technology on an array of bacteria and infections:

• Utilizing Cupron enhanced biocidal linens in a clinical setting – Initial results of a clinical field trial to combat hospital acquired infection. Dr. Gadi Borkow
• Reducing the risk of skin pathologies in diabetics by using copper impregnated socks. Dr. Gadi Borkow
• Cupron Anti-fungal fibers and Fabrics – a new generation of material in the prevention of mycological infections. Dr. Alastair Monk
• Cupron Enhanced Fabrics and Fibers for the prevention of bacterial and fungal skin infections. Dr. Alastair Monk

Do not miss this opportunity to learn more about our technology. For dates and times for these talks click here for the program.