When you expect more than just clean... PRIONZYME Delivers.

PRIONZYMETM
Prion inactivation. Powerful. Practical. Proven.

During the outbreak of Mad Cow Disease and the human form, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in the United Kingdom searched for an effective method to disinfect instruments to prevent transmission of prion diseases. Prions are highly resistant to traditional decontamination methods. Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are invariably fatal due to destruction of brain tissue, resulting in a characteristic spongy appearance. TSEs can be transmitted by instruments, even those that appear clean and have undergone sterilization procedures. During its review of available enzymes, the HPA found one that worked especially well—a Genencor^® enzyme.  A collaboration ensued, resulting in further optimizations, and in February 2006, PRIONZYME™ obtained the CE Mark as a certified protease prion disinfectant.

Designed as a one-step presoak in either manual or automated systems, PRIONZYME™ is an enzyme that digests prions, thus inactivating them with >10-million-fold reduction in infectivity. Unlike other decontaminants, PRIONZYME™ destroys prions, as opposed to simply removing them for potential redeposition or cross-contamination down the line. PRIONZYME™ destroys potentially infectious prions that may remain on instruments used for medical, dental, research, or animal rendering applications.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), vCJD, and other prion diseases have been reported in numerous countries. While updated animal practices reduced the number of BSE cases, it is unclear how many humans became infected by eating contaminated beef.  Furthermore, vCJD can lie dormant for years, with the potential for further outbreaks in the future. To prevent potential transmission via instruments, we recommend the use of PRIONZYME™ as a safeguard.

Compared to other methods and products, PRIONZYME™ is safe for both workers and instruments. Its mild formulation is environmentally sound and non-corrosive.

For more detailed information on PRIONZYME™, click on the PDF below.

PRIONZYME™ Backgrounder

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