MAJOR MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGH IN TREATMENT OF “COLD SORES”

A small local medical research company based in The Imperial Centre, Darlington, have today launched a product that could revolutionise the treatment of cold sores and alleviate suffering for thousands of people throughout the U.K.

Virulite Limited launched the Cold Sore Machine, at the Cellnet Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough recently, after 10 years of research, development and investment. The product has been both developed and manufactured within the Tees Valley.

The Cold Sore Machine is a portable, hand held device that has been medically proven in clinical trials. It is much easier to use than cold sore creams, is a natural therapy, halves the healing times of cold sore creams and weakens the virus, preventing the recurrence of further attacks.

The treatment device was developed after clinical trials demonstrated that cold sore healing time was reduced by at least half compared the most effective topically applied ointment. The results of the clinical trials are published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, March 2001.

There has been no reported side effect using the Cold Sore Machine, which emits low energy, non-thermal quantities of naturally occurring infra red light. The Cold Sore Machine has a replacable battery and will treat unlimited cold sores in one individual for the 3 year warranty period.

Doctor Gordon Dougal, a Director of Virulite commented:

"If you suffer from embarrassing and unsightly recurrent cold sores and are dreading the next attack, then this is the product for you. This product could stop the cold sore before it actually erupts."

"The product is used to treat cold sores every time they occur, and helps the body build up a resistance to the virus, preventing the recurrence of cold sores in the future. The product can also give pain relief in 90 seconds in most cases."

The product is the brainchild of Dr Gordon Dougal a medical doctor with second qualification in Electronic Engineering, who has been researching this phenomenon for the last 12 years and Jim Haslam a consultant ophthalmologist, who are both directors of the business.

Virulite Limited was formed to explore the possibility that within the infrared light spectrum existed a discrete narrow waveband of light that was responsible for therapeutic effects. Dr Dougal chose to study cold sore healing times, cold sores, a cutaneous herpes simplex infection, which known to be activated by exposure to ultraviolet light, he then recruited cold sore sufferers who were readily available to take part in clinical trials. During a 3-year period over 250 patients with cold sores were treated with different non-thermal quantities of narrow waveband light.

A subsequent prospective controlled clinical trial supervised by the University of Teesside demonstrated unequivocally that compared to topical applications, the identified specific narrow waveband reduced cold sore healing time by half.

The commercial development of a treatment device for cold sores then began as the result of the positive information highlighted by the research.

Specifically designed light emitting diodes treat the area of the cold sore with the identified waveband whilst the device is held against the skin. A built in timer ensures a 3-minute treatment cycle, whilst a light emitting diode emits visible light to reassure patients that the treatment is taking place. At the end of the treatment an audible warning sound is heard and the device automatically switches off.

The treatment is simple, highly effective, easily transportable and avoids the need for repeated applications of ointments, which have a limited shelf life once they have been opened and can be extremely messy.

CE approval ensures that there are no harmful side effects from using the Cold Sore Machine.