Virus-fighting startup Singletto closed a $10 million Sequence A funding spherical and is now promoting its pathogen-killing face masks on Amazon.
The Seattle firm was additionally selected by the U.S. Protection Superior Analysis Initiatives Company (DARPA) to hitch its Embedded Entrepreneur Initiative. This system supplies startups with DARPA help to advertise applied sciences that would support U.S. nationwide safety.
Singletto has developed what it calls Oxafence Lively Safety, a expertise that makes use of methylene blue, a chemical recognized for its skill to kill viruses, micro organism and fungi. It’s additionally comparatively secure for people as methylene blue is used within the remedy of assorted well being circumstances.
Exams of Oxafence confirmed that 99.9% of particular viral strains had been inactivated inside 5 minutes of contact with a face masks handled with the product. The expertise has potential to be used on wide-ranging healthcare objects.
Singletto received FDA approval for Oxafence final 12 months.
As a part of the Embedded Entrepreneur Initiative program, infectious illness specialist Kelli Blaize-Smart will intently companion with Singletto to contemplate these different makes use of.
“It’s thrilling to work with Singletto on advancing the corporate’s first business product, which is presently the one FDA-cleared masks within the U.S. that inactivates examined viruses,” Blaize-Smart stated in a statement.
“We’re additionally actively exploring functions in warfighter safety, wound care, and different areas the place this platform may supply actual worth,” she added.
The launch of Singletto masks on Amazon comes at a fortuitous time as flu and COVID infections enhance within the winter.
“Shifting to Amazon is a crucial step for us,” stated CEO John Bjornson. “Our intention is to have the ability to attain the nurses that don’t have entry to those choices via their employers, in addition to different folks and households who’ve that additional concern they usually’re trying to find one thing that provides them higher confidence.”
A field of fifty, American-made Oxafence masks is presently provided on Amazon for $38. Costs for competing merchandise range extensively — the same amount of U.S.-made N95 masks from BNX price practically $40, whereas comparable masks from China can be found for lower than $20.
Singletto launched in 2020 and its co-founders have deep roots in healthcare and entrepreneurship within the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Tom Lendvay, chief medical officer, is a pediatric urologist at Seattle Youngsters’s Hospital and College of Washington’ professor. Dr. Jim Chen, chief science officer, is a former neurosurgeon who beforehand launched an oncology analysis firm.
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