Kumar Organic Products, Ltd., has been named Best Innovative Company by the not-for-profit organization Star of the Industry Award. The purpose of the awards is to make "work and working lives better," and at a time of unprecedented change, those honored are said to have the vision, agility and strength to make a real difference to the CMO community, business and the economy.
With its focus on antimicrobials, Kumar Organic Products strategized to help the population during this pandemic with a steady supply of para-chloro-meta-xylenol (PCMX) and triclosan, which can be used against microbes in various products. The company was presented the star award on Dec. 23, 2021, during a ceremony held at the Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi.
See related: Kumar Organic Products Awarded for Quality Excellence
Antimicrobial Actives
PCMX, also known as chloroxylenol, is a halogen-substituted phenolic compound that is used as a preservative in cosmetics and as an active agent in antimicrobial soaps and other products such as wound-cleansing applications and household antiseptics. It is an antiseptic and disinfectant agent used for skin and surgical instruments. Chloroxylenol also functions as a cosmetic biocide and deodorant agent.
As previously reported, triclosan demonstrates good virucidal efficacy against HCoV-229E, a COVID-19 strain, in addition to the ingredient's known antibacterial and antifungal effects. Importantly, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of triclosan from OTC topical products in 2017 without premarket approval and in 2019, deemed triclosan ineligible for use in OTC antiseptic rubs and washes due to insufficient data. The agency reported there are ongoing studies in this regard.
Formulating Consumer Protection
The company reports it has additionally developed products using triclosan to help consumers, including a no-water cleanser with sanitizer, a mouthwash and a nasal spray, the latter of which has been proposed for clinical trials. As noted, triclosan is an antibacterial and antifungal agent that has long been used in soaps, shampoos, deodorants, toothpastes, mouthwashes, cleaning supplies and pesticides.
