PETALING JAYA: Research-driven biotech company Holista CollTech Ltd intends to raise shipments of its NatShield sanitiser to 145,000 bottles by end-February from 60,000 bottles previously amid growing concerns over the 2019 novel coronavirus.
Chief executive officer Datuk Dr Rajen Manicka said the product, which comes in a 20ml bottle, contains an active ingredient that has been proven to be effective in combating over 170 deadly pathogens, including previously known coronavirus.
“We have been working around the clock to fulfil orders in Malaysia. We have also received many overseas enquiries and we will update on shipment increases in the next few weeks,” he told reporters at a briefing here today (Feb 6).
He said each bottle of NatShield sanitiser contained 5% of Path-Away, a plant-based active ingredient approved by the US Food and Drug Authority, as well as Malaysia’s Ministry of Health.
“We will soon accelerate the development of nasal balm, using the Path-Away active ingredient, which can reduce risk of infection,” he said.
Dr Rajen said Holista intended to file its own global patent for the nasal balm by March with a view to offer the product to the international consumer market by the third quarter of this year.
He added that the 20ml sanitiser retails in Malaysian pharmacies for RM25. Each bottle produces up to 150 sprays. The company also plans to produce 30ml and 60ml bottles of the spray for RM35 and RM47 each.
Meanwhile, Big Pharmacy CEO Lee Meng Chuan said the pharmacy is limiting the purchase of the sanitiser to one bottle per customer due to higher demand and shortage of the product.
“We are doing our best to cope with demand across 30 outlets. The health and well-being of our customers are the priority and we will work closely with Holista in the coming weeks to meet customer orders,” he said.
Holista CollTech is a Kuala Lumpur-based company which is listed in Australia, and it is the exclusive Path-Away distributor in Asean countries. – Feb 6, 2020, Bernama
