Document Security Systems, Inc. (“DSS” or the “Company”) (NYSE
American: DSS), a multinational company operating businesses
focusing on brand protection technology, blockchain security,
direct marketing, healthcare, consumer packaging, real estate,
renewable energy, and securitized digital assets, today announced
its wholly owned subsidiary Impact BioMedical, Inc. (“Impact
BioMedical”) received notice of issuance (US 10,966,424) from the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) for 3FDB, a Functional
Fragrance Formulation (3F) technology that increases the
effectiveness of current mosquito repellants through a delightfully
fragrant compound derived from botanical oils.
3FDB is an efficacy booster for existing
mosquito repellants such as DEET, Picaridin, and IR3535, among
others. The booster incapacitates two of the three receptors that
mosquitos use to find sources of nutrition, in this case, that
source is humans.
“While existing mosquito repellants target only
the gustatory receptors in insects, 3FDB uses a multiple receptor
approach by targeting ionotropic, gustatory and olfactory receptors
in insects to provide a synergistic action to repel insects as well
as inhibit the ability of insects to detect and seek prey,” says
Daryl Thompson, Director of Scientific Initiatives at Impact
BioMedical and founder of advanced research company GRDG Sciences,
LLC (“GRDG”).
While 3FDB has far-reaching applications for
everyday life, the most important application could be saving
lives. According to the National Institutes of Health, mosquitos
are responsible for more than a million deaths each year because
they can host a variety of diseases including malaria, dengue, West
Nile yellow fever, Zika, chikungunya, and lymphatic filariasis.
Impact BioMedical's Chief Scientific Advisor Dr.
Roscoe M. Moore, Jr., United States Assistant Surgeon General
(Retired) and former Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officer at
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, “This patent
could pave the way for increased protection from mosquito-borne
diseases around the world.”
The desire to save lives was the impetus that
led Impact BioMedical to seek a solution to this global health
problem. The Florida-based team found it right in their own
backyard.
How It Was DiscoveredImpact BioMedical found
its solution to minimizing mosquito bites in orchids — especially
the elusive and legendary ghost orchid flower — found only in the
wild in Cuba and the Florida Everglades.
“We looked at over 300 rare orchids from around the world — from
Borneo to the Congo to South and Central America — as well as our
own Florida Everglades,” said Thompson. “We observed that while the
mosquitos were plentiful in those environments, none of the males
were ever attracted to or pollinating the orchids. The orchids were
basically invisible to the mosquitos.”
The team theorized that the orchids were producing a chemical
that inhibited the mosquitos’ ability to find them. Through testing
and research, the team identified the chemical compounds then
worked backwards to find a way to isolate and reproduce them.
“3FDB works differently from traditional insect repellents. It’s
effective even at very low concentrations due to its multi-aspect
receptor inhibition,” said Thompson.
How It WorksMosquitos have a trio of receptors
— ionotropic, gustatory, and olfactory — that detect the chemicals
and carbon dioxide humans expel through perspiration and
respiration. Existing mosquito repellents focus mainly on the
gustatory receptor, which diminishes the mosquito’s ability to
detect humans, but still leaves the other two receptors —
ionotropic and olfactory — active.
3FDB, using the replicated chemical compounds
found in the ghost orchid, focuses on the other two receptors, and
provides extra protection for the third. The booster blocks the
insect’s ability to detect humans, essentially making humans
invisible to the mosquito.
“We are constantly pushing to stay ahead of
issues affecting the world and look for ways to provide safe and
meaningful solutions to combat these problems," said Mr. Chan Heng
Fai, Chairman of DSS.
Long-Term ApplicationsThe team relied on the
expertise of its partners at Chemia Corporation to use the chemical
compounds of the orchid as the base for 3FDB’s intentionally light
and pleasant scent.
“This collaboration has proven the power of
research, and fragrance is a new frontier in innovative
technology,” said Thomas A. Meyer, Vice President, Innovation and
Sustainability, Chemia Corporation.
3FDB can be included in a variety of
applications, such as sprays, lotions, laundry detergents,
shampoos, soaps, fabric softeners, dryer sheets, misters,
ventilation systems, and air fresheners.
According to Statista, the US market for
mosquito repellants is forecasted to be $860 million in 2021,
growing to $1.2 billion by 2025. Globally, the market is expected
to surpass $6 billion by 2027.
"We are pleased with the recent issue of our 3F
composition patent for a natural insect repellent,” said Frank
Heuszel, CEO of DSS and President of Impact BioMedical. “There is
significant interest in repellents from botanical sources, and this
achievement demonstrates our intent to make these unique products
available to consumers worldwide in the future."
About Impact BioMedical, Inc.Impact BioMedical,
Inc. ("Impact BioMedical") is a wholly owned subsidiary of DSS and
a unique technology source, developer, and business partner in
addressing unmet needs in human healthcare and wellness. For more
information on Impact BioMedical visit http://impbio.com/.
About Document Security Systems, Inc.DSS is a
multinational company operating businesses focused on brand
protection technology, blockchain security, direct marketing,
healthcare, consumer packaging, real estate, renewable energy, and
securitized digital assets. Its business model is based on a
distribution sharing system in which shareholders will receive
shares in its subsidiaries as DSS strategically spins them out into
IPOs. Its historic business revolves around counterfeit deterrent
and authentication technologies, smart packaging, and consumer
product engagement. DSS is led by its Chairman and largest
shareholder, Mr. Fai Chan, a highly successful global business
veteran of more than 40 years specializing in corporate
transformation while managing risk. He has successfully
restructured more than 35 corporations with a combined value of $25
billion.
For more information on DSS
visit http://www.dsssecure.com.
Investor Contact:Dave Gentry, CEORedChip
Companies Inc.407-491-4498Dave@redchip.com
Safe Harbor DisclosureThis press release
contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to
the Company's ability to complete the financing, its intended use
of proceeds and other statements that are not historical facts.
Forward-looking statements are based on management's current
expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may
cause actual results or events to differ materially from those
projected. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond
our control, include: the risk that the public offering of common
stock may not close; risks relating to our growth strategy; our
ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and
strategic agreements and relationships; risks relating to the
results of development activities; our ability to attract,
integrate and retain key personnel; our need for substantial
additional funds; patent and intellectual property matters;
competition; as well as other risks described in the section
entitled "Risk Factors" in the prospectus and in our other filings
with the SEC, including, without limitation, our reports on Forms
8-K and 10-Q, all of which can be obtained on the SEC website
at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of
the date on which they are made and reflect management's current
estimates, projections, expectations and beliefs. We expressly
disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any
updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained
herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in
events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is
based, except as required by law.
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