A researcher at Israel’s Hebrew University has developed an antiviral hand sanitizer to be marketed as “EtoClean” that has been found highly effective against the swine flu virus, according to the Yissum Research Development Company Ltd., the university’s TTO. Developed by Prof. Elka Touitou of the HU School of Pharmacy, the product is being commercialized by Novel Therapeutic Technologies, a Yissum spinoff company. Results of tests conducted on clinically isolated H1N1 virus from patients demonstrated that the composition inactivates the swine flu virus within 15 seconds of exposure, according to Yissum. The tests were carried out according to the American Society for Testing and Materials protocol in an FDA-certified laboratory in the U.S. The product is claimed to have microbicidal and antiviral properties effective for sanitizing a variety of surfaces, foods, and skin using ingredients that are generally regarded as safe and environmentally friendly. In addition, the product inactivates many non-enveloped viruses, such as the hepatitis and noroviruses, which are not susceptible to regular alcohol-based sanitizers.<\/p>\n