Janssen and Symphony to market new antimicrobial technology

Janssen has signed a new five-year supply and marketing agreement with Symphony Environmental Technologies pertaining to an innovative antimicrobial product.

The companies have been working together for two years to create an antifungal and antibacterial master batch that can be put into plastic products at the manufacturing stage to control dangerous bacteria, fungi, mould, mildew and algae.

It will be able to restrict the spread of MRSA, E.coli, salmonella, listeria, pseudomonas, aspergillus niger, M. piriformis and P. roqueforti in plastic products such as medical devices, pipes, packaging and containers.

This comes as part of wider efforts by Janssen and other healthcare companies to curb the impact of antimicrobial resistance.

Michael Laurier, chief executive of Symphony, said: "The collaboration with Janssen is a significant step forward in the development of Symphony's business, as this is groundbreaking technology."

Earlier this week, Janssen's global capabilities were strengthened by the completion of parent company Johnson and Johnson's takeover of Aragon Pharmaceuticals.