BioX®, this is the name of the new biocidal mask from the French manufacturer Paul Boyé Technologies. Accessible to the public since Wednesday September 22, its force of action was to “destroy the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants by contact”. According to this company that developed this technology, the BioX® mask has demonstrated over 99% viral reduction after one hour and would be effective against disease variants.

How does this virus “killer” mask work?

The company based in Labarthe-sur-Lèze, south of Toulouse, explains how it works in a document “Questions / Answers about BioX® masks“This mask kills the virus on contact”, assures the company. “It does not only constitute a barrier, it destroys the virus. The cell membrane of the virus is broken by the active principle (cell lysis) resulting in the final destruction of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants “.

As with classic masks, the BioX® mask is available as masks FFP2 or surgical. The duration of effectiveness is the same for BioX®, eight hours for the FFP2 mask and four hours for the surgical.

What is the composition of this mask?

This research project was launched in 2010 according to the company’s press release. It was not the Covid-19 targeted at the time but anthrax. “It was industrially validated and approved in 2017 with the obtaining of the CE type certificate”. The trials were relaunched in 2020 at the start of the health crisis.

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For more transparency, the company Paul Boyé Technologies specifies the composition of this mask:

Like all single-use masks, BioX® is mainly composed of polypropylene, polyethylene, elastane and steel. The materials used for its manufacture come mainly from France. It includes on the outer layer of the mask a known biocide commonly used in food contact. This known biocide is used in consumer products as an effective preservative, as well as in a wide variety of industrial applications. “

Tests carried out before marketing

Before being able to market the BioX®, the company had its models tested at four laboratories : Independent pharmaceutical laboratory; DGA Control NRBC (Laboratory P4); Apave (notified body for the PPE regulations); Expert laboratory in “biological risk assessment”.

“Paul Boyé Technologies has delivered 1 million BioX® masks to the DGA (French Ministry of the Armed Forces) for trials at the Bouchet Center and deployment within the military health service”, adds the company before congratulating itself: “l The Toulouse company was thus able to produce industrially the effectiveness of the mask on SARS-CoV-2 “.

Don’t these masks come too late?

While the vaccination campaign is gaining ground in France, the question arises: aren’t these BioX® masks coming too late? “No”, retorts the company. “We now know that vaccination does not protect with the same effectiveness against all variants and that even vaccinated, we can be contagious. Barrier gestures, including wearing a mask, are therefore still recommended or even mandatory. So a mask that kills viruses, carried in closed places and wherever the population density is high, it is a real protection “.

“On the plane, on the train, in the metro, in all performance venues, in stadiums, BioX® is much more protective”, continues the company Paul Boyé Technologies. And to conclude: “this mask slows down the circulation of the virus and fights against possible clusters”.