Filligent co-founder Melissa Mowbray-d'Arbela saw potential for the groundbreaking technology to combat infectious diseases

Melissa Mowbray-d'Arbela co-founded biotech company Filligent in 2001, with the aim of developing low-cost technology to combat chronic and infectious diseases worldwide. She says it "made sense" to be based in Hong Kong, "the most convenient and efficient business hub in Asia." 

The company was in the midst of developing its two proprietary technology platforms – one that reduces the health risks of cigarette smoking, and another that attacks bacteria and viruses – when the swine flu pandemic hit. 

Now, Filligent is "signing deals all over the world" for its germ-fighting BioMask, a product billed as the first medical face mask to kill the influenza A virus within seconds of contact. "We're mobilising our resources to respond to global needs," Ms Mowbray-d'Arbela says of the current health crisis. "The BioMask was designed specifically for situations like this." 

To date, tens of millions of BioMasks have been exported to buyers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Latin America, Australia, Southeast Asia, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, India – "basically, everywhere," says Ms Mowbray-d'Arbela. 

Medical Technology

	Developed in Hong Kong, the BioMask is helping in the global fight against swine flu

The beauty of the BioMask, says Ms Mowbray-d'Arbela, is that it allows the wearer to breathe normally – an important requirement for frontline workers and children, who are often the first to fall during a contagious episode. 

"The swine flu pandemic is a perfect example of how our technology is relevant worldwide," she says. "Our patented BioMask is proving to be an indispensable tool for governments, NGOs and medical institutions around the world to assist in the containment of the virus." 

International Network

Before Filligent, Ms Mowbray-d'Arbela ran a social responsibility private equity fund and advisory business, called Maven, investing in businesses that advance or protect the interests of disempowered groups in society. When Filligent co-founders Neal Stewart, Chief Technical Officer, and Reid von Borstel, Chief Scientist, approached her with their idea for a biotech company, she saw both the health benefits and the investment potential. Ms Mowbray-d'Arbela already knew Hong Kong was the most efficient place do business. The high-quality manufacturing available in the southern Chinese mainland made the combination "unrivaled." 

"Filligent addresses problems such as pandemics, diseases endemic to indigent populations, such as tuberculosis and air pollution, among many others," she says. "Although our company's proximity to China makes that country a natural source of inspiration for our scientists, our scope and mission have always been global when devising new technology." 

Filligent now has 35 employees worldwide, from its head office and lab in Hong Kong, to manufacturing facilities in North Carolina in the US and Shenzhen in the southern mainland. To meet peak demand for the BioMask from governments, medical institutions, medical distributors, pharmacies and trading companies all over the world, Filligent is currently installing several more manufacturing lines at its Chinese mainland factory. 

Low-Cost Solutions

Ms Mowbray-d'Arbela expects Filligent will continue to play an important role in discovering and commercialising solutions for world health problems. 

"Filligent will continue to introduce revolutionary low-cost technology that will reduce and contain the spread of diseases all over the world. Moreover, Filligent is a leading example of how a Hong Kong company can effectively compete and win in today's global economy – by creating high value-added non-commodity products sold under the banner of memorable consumer brands." 

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