Tallink Grupp AS

05/28/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/28/2021 02:50

Tallink Grupp’s Estonian flagged vessels start to offer BioBlock®, a novel nasal spray with bovine colostrum-derived antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, exclusively on the Baltic[...]

Tallink Grupp's Estonian flagged vessels start to offer BioBlock®, a novel nasal spray with bovine colostrum-derived antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, exclusively on the Baltic Sea on the 1 June 2021

Fri, 28 May 2021 11:00:00 +0300

To develop, produce and bring to the market the BioBlock® nasal spray, several well-established Estonian companies and universities joined to form a consortium, that now has entered into a cooperation agreement with Tallink Grupp. This means BioBlock will be available for Tallink customers from next Tuesday, the 1st of June, in the onboard shops of Star, Megastar and Silja Europa vessels as well as in Tallink's webshop. The consortium includes Icosagen Cell Factory OÜ, AS Chemi-Pharm, OÜ Teadus ja Tegu, Estonian Life Sciences (Institute of Veterinary Medicine and OÜ Eerika farm) and University of Tartu (Institute of Pharmacy, Institute of Biomedical and Translational Medicine, and Institute of Technology).

'Tallink Grupp is delighted that the production volumes of the novel prophylactic nasal spray containing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, developed and produced in Estonia, have grown within the last month to the point that in addition to being available in Estonia pharmacies, we can offer it on board of our vessels operating on the Baltic Sea, as well as through our online web shop' Aimar Pärna, Head of Tallink Duty-Free and Retail Sales for Tallink Grupp, said.

BioBlock® is a natural product derived from bovine colostrum collected from cows hyperimmunized with the SARS-CoV-2 viral spike protein. Bovine colostrum is milk produced by cows, within the first few days after giving birth, that contains antibodies that provide passive immunity to the newborn calves. The antibodies in BioBlock® nasal spray remain on the mucosa for up to 4 hours and one spray bottle contains 150 administration doses.

Professor Mart Ustav, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Icosagen, who developed the original concept for BioBlock®, emphasized that this is not a pharmaceutical drug, and certainly does not replace vaccination. 'BioBlock® solution can effectively inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus and it prevents viral particles from entering the cells. Although vaccination protects from severe form of COVID-19 disease, it does not completely rule out the chance of becoming infected with the virus and therefore every additional measure helps. Whereas the spreading of the virus particles in aerosols, can be measured in meters, then together with infected individuals, it can travel thousands of kilometers. Therefore, it is especially important to neutralize the virus particles in people who are traveling, which is the most effective tactic against the new strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus,' said professor Ustav.

'Our latest studies in lab have shown that antibodies in BioBlock® nasal spray effectively block the viral entry into cells, which includes all the mostly known SARS-CoV-2 virus strains, also the newest Indian strains. The clinical trials began in May' Professor Ustav added.

Starting from the 1st of June, the product is available onboard Tallink Grupp's Megastar and Star vessels, and from the 23rd of June, onboard vessel Silja Europa, in all onboard shops, at information desks, in Business and Comfort Lounges. Additionally, Tallink Grupp's customers in Estonia can buy the product safely and contactless via Tallink webshop, at: https://shopping.tallink.com/et/shop/.

For more information to the media, please contact:

Katri Link
Communications Director
Tallink Grupp
Tel. +372 5304 2121
E-mail: [email protected]

Tallink Grupp
AS Tallink Grupp is one of the leading providers of passenger transport and cargo transport services in the northern part of the Baltic Sea region. The company owns 15 vessels and operates a number of ferry routes on the Baltic Sea under the brand names of Tallink and Silja Line. AS Tallink Grupp employs around 4000 people in Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Russia and Germany. The shares of Tallink Grupp are listed on the Tallinn Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Helsinki Stock Exchange.