Unilever Bangladesh, the country’s leading fast-moving consumer goods company, is set to come up with a mouthwash that will kill 99.9 per cent of coronavirus after 30 seconds of rinsing soon. Called the Pepsodent Germicheck Mouth Rinse Liquid, the product’s launch comes at a time when the spectre of a second wave of coronavirus is revving up to sweep across the country. The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose, which has been detected before, during and after the acute phase of illness as well as in asymptomatic cases. Therefore, reducing the viral load in the mouth could help to reduce transmission, according to the Anglo-Dutch multinational giant. The findings indicate that mouthwash could become an important addition to other everyday protective measures like handwashing, physical distancing and mask use, it added. “We understand that consumers rely on our products and we try our best to bring innovative products to Bangladesh,” RuhulQuddus, supply chain director of Unilever Bangladesh, told Dhaka Tribune on Tuesday. Unilever’s preliminary lab test results show that mouthwash formulation containing CPC Technology reduces 99.9 per cent of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, after 30 seconds of rinsing. “While we are clear that this is not a cure or proven way to prevent the transmission of coronavirus, our results are promising,” said Glyn Roberts, research and development head of Unilever Oral Care. Given the critical stage of the pandemic, the company feels it is important to share the results of the mouthwash. The product is set to launch in neighbouring India next month, but in Bangladesh, its rollout is depending on how quickly the regulatory approvals come through. “We seek and expect support from the government to expedite the process and help us serve Bangladeshi consumers with an effective product that can help to reduce coronavirus transmission,” Quddus said. Unilever said the test for its mouthwash containing CPC (cetylpyridinium chloride) technology was conducted by an independent and internationally accredited testing facility, Microbac Laboratories, on behalf of Unilever Research Laboratories in the US. CPC is a widely used cosmetic ingredient, also used by the dental industry, and is known for its antibacterial and antivirus benefits. The test focussed on both 30- and 60-second rinse times, aiming to replicate the real-life use of mouthwash in an in-vitro context. However, the formulation is not a treatment for COVID-19, nor a guarantee that it will prevent transmission on its own, Unilever added. Unilever has introduced a host of products since the outbreak of coronavirus in Bangladesh, such as hand rub, hand sanitiser and antibacterial hand cream.
