CIBA Specialty chemicals forms JV with Biosignal

Ciba Specialty Chemicals has formed a joint development and licensing agreement with Biosignal, Sydney, Australia to develop novel anti-microbial compounds for consumer and industrial products based upon Biosignal’s anti-biofilm technology. Biosignal has granted Ciba Specialty Chemicals an exclusive license in some of Ciba’s key markets including coatings, paints, and plastics.
Biosignal’s anti-biofilm technology is based on a discovery that the eastern Australian seaweed Delisea pulchra produces natural furanones that disable bacteria’s ability to colonize. Development is expected to begin in May 2006 and testing will occur at Ciba’s laboratories in Basel, Switzerland and at Biosignal’s laboratories in Sydney, Australia.