Chemi-Pharm AS

Laboratory testing of BioBlock nasal spray, which contains coronavirus antibodies, has demonstrated the product’s effectiveness in also blocking the delta variant currently spreading in Estonia. Tests have proven that BioBlock offers protection not only against the original Wuhan variant of the virus, but also against the delta and kappa variants of Indian origin and the British, South African and Brazilian variants.

“So far our laboratory tests have shown that BioBlock works effectively against all of the coronavirus variants the World Health Organisation is most concerned by, including the delta variant that’s currently spreading in Estonia,” explained Mart Ustav Jnr, the head of research at Icosagen. “We’re keeping a close eye on changes in the virus and doing preventive testing of BioBlock’s ability to neutralise variants that aren’t yet widespread.”

Dr Ruth Oltjer, the director of Chemi-Pharm, says that BioBlock is a textbook example of research-based product development. “Albeit born from a need to get the better of a global pandemic,” she remarked. “With the infection rate on the rise again, the best way of protecting yourself is by doing four things: vaccinating, wearing a mask, disinfecting your hands and using BioBlock.”

Approval for the production and sale of BioBlock came from the Health Board, taking into account the views of an expert working group on borderline products comprising specialists from the Agency of Medicines, the Agriculture and Food Board, the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority and the Health Board itself. In legal terms, BioBlock is neither a medicinal product nor a medical device, but its product and packaging information was coordinated with both the Agency of Medicines and the Health Board.

The concept for this innovative Estonian product was developed by researchers from Icosagen, led by Professor Mart Ustav. The consortium established for the development and marketing of BioBlock consists of researchers and specialists from Chemi-Pharm, Icosagen, the University of Tartu, the Estonian University of Life Sciences and OÜ Teadus ja Tegu. The technology behind the product has been patented. BioBlock nasal spray is manufactured and marketed by Chemi-Pharm.

An extension with cleanrooms will be added to the factory completed in Tänassilma Technology Park two years ago by Chemi-Pharm, a manufacturer of disinfectants and luxury cosmetics. Chemi-Pharm’s goal in expanding its production, warehouse, and commercial premises is in the near future to enter the pharmaceutical industry.
The extension of the production building has three floors and, together with the existing building, forms a whole. The extension of production, commercial and warehouse premises cover 8500m². The new production building will also include production areas with a higher cleanliness level, i.e., cleanrooms, which will be used in biotechnology, medicine, and other areas sensitive to air pollution. The air enters the cleanroom through a filter that traps all the air pollution. The air in the room is constantly re-filtered to remove contaminants from the room.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased worldwide need for both disinfectants and medicines. After the outbreak of the corona crisis, Chemi-Pharm became the most important supplier of disinfectants and care products for hospitals, nursing homes, and many other health care institutions in Estonia.

“We have been able to operate in the current factory building, which was completed only in 2019, for barely two years, and unexpectedly even to us, the building has occurred to be too small for us due to high demand,” says Kristo Timberg, CEO of Chemi-Pharm. “However, we are pleased that we had the opportunity to contribute and support hospitals, frontline staff, and society as a whole with disinfectants when they were most needed. But now we have to look further into the future again and increase our production capacity.”

Kristo Timberg added that in the near future Chemi-Pharm in cooperation with Icosagen Group, OÜ Teadus ja Tegu, and Estonian University of Life Sciences, and the University of Tartu, will also launch a new nasal spray, “SARS-Cov-2 BioBlock,” based on anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. This provides additional protection against the coronavirus. “In the coming years, we plan to enter the field of pharmacy, for which we will establish a production unit based on cleanroom technology. The current crisis has shown that every country could have its own vaccine production capacity,” he added.

Tarmo Kastemäe, CEO of Innopolis Insenerid OÜ, states: “Innopolis Insenerid OÜ is one of the largest design bureaus in Estonia with in-depth experience in the field of healthcare and pharmacy. Our cooperation with Chemi-Pharm combines the best knowledge of two strong Estonian companies in the field of medicine and pharmacy. This creates an opportunity for the development of the Estonian pharmaceutical industry in the midst of a pandemic. We are pleased to contribute to Chemi-Pharm’s ambition to start manufacturing pharmaceuticals in Estonia and to increase the security of the Estonian people in the fight against the pandemic through the local pharmaceutical industry.”

Chemi-Pharm

Founded in 1997, Public Limited Company Chemi-Pharm develops, manufactures, and markets disinfectants, personal care products, cleaning and special care products, and the D’DIFFERENCE series of luxury cosmetics. Chemi-Pharm has subsidiaries in Malaysia and Singapore, but production is concentrated in Estonia, and the company’s head office is also located here.

Chemi-Pharm’s product list includes over a hundred different disinfection, cleaning, and care products, which in turn are divided into six main product groups: detergents, hand and skin antiseptics, skincare products, products for washing and disinfecting surfaces, products for washing and disinfecting instruments and cosmetics products. Today, the company exports its products to 27 countries, and in addition to medical institutions, customers also include the food industry, cleaning companies, children’s institutions, and schools.

Innopolis Insenerid

Innopolis Insenerid OÜ is a design bureau founded in 2007, which focuses on full-service building design solutions in Estonia and the Nordic countries. During its more than a dozen years of operation, the company has grown into one of the largest design bureaus in Estonia and a good partner in the construction of energy-efficient and sustainable buildings. Innopolis Insenerid OÜ has designed more than 140,000 m2 of healthcare and pharmaceutical buildings in the last ten years, which makes us one of the leading companies in the design of such buildings in the Nordic and Baltic countries.