1st July 2008

Medihoney™ Barrier Cream on UK Drug Tariff
50g Tube on FP10 from 1st July 2008

Medihoney™ Barrier Cream helps maintain the skin’s barrier properties, skin moisture and pH. It will be available on Drug Tariff from 1st July 2008.

Medihoney™ Barrier Cream can be applied to intact and at-risk skin to provide protection from body fluids and moisture. It can be used around wounds and under skin folds where a protective barrier will help prevent skin breakdown. The Cream can also be applied under wound dressings and incontinence pads where the skin can be at-risk of damage.

Changes to the skin’s pH can allow normally harmless enzymes to breakdown the skin. The use of Medihoney™ Barrier Cream helps to maintain the skin's protective pH.

Medihoney™ wound care products from Comvita, the worlds’ largest producer of Leptospermum sp. honey, are supported by over 15 years of international research. Launched in 1999, Medihoney™ Antibacterial Honey was the first medical honey developed specifically for advanced wound care. A recent study published in the Journal of Wound Care¹ concluded that Leptospermum honey supplied by Comvita was "effective in eradicating MRSA from 70% of venous ulcers¹.

Medihoney™ Barrier Cream contains 30% Medihoney™ Antibacterial Honey and is specially formulated with a range of natural ingredients.

-Ends-

¹ Journal of Wound Care Vol 17, No 6 June 2008

Contact:
Jane Scott
Medihoney (Europe) Ltd
UK Toll free: 0800 071 3912
Int Tel: +44 1753 70 1617

Notes for Editors:
Medihoney™ Barrier Cream 50g will be available from 1st July 2008 and listed in the Drug Tariff in part IXC, Skin Fillers & Protectives - PIP COD E 338 -7644

Indications for Use:
· Protects at-risk skin from breakdown associated with incontinence and can be used under incontinence pads

· Can be used around wound edges to protect the skin from irritation or breakdown caused by wound exudate

· Helps protect the skin from damage caused by friction or shear

· Helps prevent maceration

· Helps prevent excoriation

· Helps maintain the skin pH

· Helps prevent damage to skin caused by frequent hand washing.

About Medihoney™:
Medihoney™ products are setting new standards in advanced wound care. With current international research showing up to 28% reduction in healing times over conventional dressings along with a significant reduction in wound pH, the evidence has never been more compelling. Comvita, owner of Medihoney is the world’s largest manufacturer and marketer of Leptospermum (Manuka) honey. A recent study published in the Journal of Wound Care¹ concluded that Leptospermum honey supplied by Comvita was "effective in eradicating MRSA from 70% of venous ulcers.¹" Few advanced wound care products can match its broad range of modalities and still be suitable for long term use on some of our most vulnerable patients. Medihoney products have both US FDA approval and European CE mark conformity assessment.
¹ Journal of Wound Care Vol 17, No 6 June 2008
www.medihoney.com

News Release
14 March 2008

Comvita strongly supports recent action taken by the Active Manuka Honey Association (AMHA) to protect the UMF® (Unique Manuka Factor) brand and customers around the globe who use UMF® honey products.

This follows the announcement today that a search warrant has been executed by police as part of an investigation into the alleged fraudulent activity by a senior employee of a honey company licensed to sell UMF® (Unique Manuka Factor™) honey and honey products.

Brett Hewlett, Comvita CEO says, “As the largest manufacturer and exporter of Manuka honey, we endorse AMHA’s strong action to preserve the integrity of the UMF® brand in New Zealand; and also the wider action taken in key offshore markets. The credibility of the brand is of paramount importance, not only to our business but to the New Zealand beekeeping industry as a whole.”

UMF® is a special antibacterial activity not found in other honeys, making UMF® Manuka Honey one of the most sought after honeys in the world. It is taken internally to assist the digestive function and on wounds to support natural healing and immune response. Licensed users of the UMF® brand are required to meet set criteria which include regular monitoring and auditing in order to ensure premium quality.

“All Comvita UMF® honey products are independently tested and certified to have the special UMF antibacterial property level as indicated on the label. Very high quality standards have been set” says Hewlett.

Comvita’s Active UMF®15+ Manuka honey was named “Best Manuka” in the latest issue of the BBC’s Good Food Magazine; the UK publication tested over 40 honeys to find the best.

-Ends-

Media Release
20 February 2008

Comvita’s new Medihoney™ Barrier and Derma Creams for protection and moisture control

Normal skin has a naturally acidic protective mantle. The acid mantle helps to hydrate the skin by protecting it from drying and from harmful bacteria. Skin ailments such as eczema and dermatitis are linked to a disrupted acid mantle with subsequent colonisation by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus.

Changes to the skin’s pH can allow normally harmless enzymes to breakdown the skin. The use of Medihoney™ Creams helps maintain the skin's protective pH.

Barrier Cream is designed for use on wet areas. It can be applied to intact and at-risk skin to provide protection from body fluids and moisture. It can be used around wounds and under skin folds where a protective barrier will help prevent skin breakdown. The cream can also be applied under wound dressings and incontinence pads where the skin can be at-risk of damage. Medihoney™ Barrier Cream helps maintain the skin’s barrier properties and maintain skin moisture.

Medihoney™ Derma Cream is uniquely formulated for dry and vulnerable skin. It can be used on large skin areas and under compression or wound dressings to protect intact skin from breakdown and irritation caused by dryness, friction or shear. Derma Cream protects and moisturises dry skin and can help reduce itching.

Derma and Barrier Cream each contain 30% Medihoney™ Antibacterial Honey and other natural ingredients.

Anthony Moloney, General Manager, Comvita Medical; says “In vitro studies have shown Staphylococcus aureus to be one of the most sensitive bacteria to Medihoney™’s Antibacterial Honey; a proprietary, standardized medical honey from predominantly Leptospermum sp. (Manuka), developed to maximise its effects against a wide range of organisms.”

In 2007, the journal Wounds featured an article that evaluated the in vitro activity of Medihoney™ Antibacterial Honey against a challenge set of 127 clinical isolates with multiple antibiotic resistance. The study showed that the Medihoney™ Antibacterial Honey was effective at inhibiting these bacteria irrespective of their level of antibiotic resistance. It was particularly effective against Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA down to a 4% dilution¹.

-Ends-
References:

1. George NM & Cutting K F 2007. Antibacterial Honey (Medihoney™): in-vitro Activity Against Clinical Isolates of MRSA, VRE, and Other Multiresistant Gram-negative Organisms Including Pseudomonas aeroginosa. J Wounds; 19(9): 231-236

2. Taskapan MO & Kumar P 2000. Role of staphylococcal superantigens in atopic dermatitis: from colonisation to inflammation. Annals of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology; 84(1): 3-10