Aegle Launches the First N95 Mask to Feature Exclusive Acteev Anti-Microbial Fabric and Authentication and Traceability Technology

Healthtech Company Aims to Address Counterfeit PPE Marketplace

Masks are Manufactured in Houston, Texas with Plans for Additional PPE Applications

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aegle (“the Company”), a high-quality American-made PPE manufacturer and health-tech company, has launched the first N95 and NIOSH certified mask that uses authentication and traceability technology, it announced today. Every box case and lot has an embedded NFC chip to prevent counterfeiting and ensure that every mask sold is trusted, transparent and authentic.

Aegle’s team comprises technologists, industrial designers, and healthcare experts – including multiple PhDs and experience in national security and technology. Aegle masks are manufactured domestically in the Houston, Texas metro area and the company has plans to launch and license further PPE applications of its patent-pending authentication and traceability technology.

Masks are available for corporations, businesses, healthcare institutions, essential workplaces and individuals to purchase on Aegle’s website and Amazon beginning today.

“Despite plummeting COVID-19 cases in the US, the world has forever changed as a result of COVID-19 with governments, healthcare organizations, businesses and consumers now well aware of the need to maintain domestic supply of authentic high-quality masks and PPE”, said Thomas Lopez, Chief Technology Officer at Aegle. “We are actively responding to these needs through our health-tech solutions and our laser-focus on innovating and defining the future of high-tech, high-quality protective medical equipment. Our industry-first authentication and traceability technology is the first milestone in our larger mission to make medical protective equipment design safer, transparent and trustworthy.”

Aegle’s N95 mask is designed with careful attention to physical improvements and equipment design for safety and comfort. The masks are made from ultra-lightweight materials that deliver exceptional fit and breathability. Each Aegle N95 mask is designed to effectively secure mask placement, minimize mask movement, and deliver maximum visibility, helping to reduce inhalation exposure to airborne biological particles like COVID-19, Bacillus Anthracis, and Mycobacterium Tuberculosis.

Exclusive Partnerships and Impact

Aegle’s anti-microbial N95 respirator is developed through the Company’s exclusive partnership with Ascend Materials. Ascend’s Acteev fabric is embedded with active zinc ions that independent experts have shown contain anti-viral and anti-microbial efficacy.

Since its founding in May 2020, Aegle has built strong relationships with industry partners including non-profits Project N95 and Get Us PPE to serve the overarching mission of building resilience into the US supply chains and strategic reserves of PPE. Specific initiatives include:

• ProjectN95 and the Patriot Military Family Foundation: Aegle donated tens of thousands of masks to the National Guard for the Presidential inauguration in January.
• United Food and Commercial Workers Union(UFCW): Aegle has committed that 100 percent of its employees will be unionized.
• Aegle donated over 14,000 masks for COVID-19 relief in India last month, to combat one of the worst outbreaks globally

Aegle is backed by a team of Silicon Valley technology entrepreneurs and investors. Co-founder Andrew Moy (or Yida Gao) said, “Aegle is more than a financial investment. Our team is protecting the security and safety of all Americans by supporting the reshoring of critical manufacturing to the United States. Investing in a domestic tech-based and impact-oriented PPE manufacturer helps America break supply chain bottlenecks that continue to plague the global economy as we recover from the pandemic and ensure that we remain prepared for future health crisis.”

Authenticity and Traceability

The authentication and traceability technology enhances supply chain intelligence to help ensure effective end-user distribution and that PPE is effective and not counterfeit.

Available information will include internal and third-party test data for all materials used in the production of the product, date of manufacturing, expiration date, lot number, and will verify that each box is an official Aegle product. Having a security layer that authenticates that the product was manufactured by Aegle aims to provide transparency to the entire supply chain – distributors, retailers, and end consumers.

Aegle’s first manufacturing and distribution center is located in the new VEnergy 100-acre industrial park near Brookshire in the Houston, Texas metro area, currently designated as an economic development HUBZone and Opportunity Zone. The center features 90,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space and neighbors other major national distribution facilities. Following the launch of its N95 mask, Aegle has plans to expand production and construct new industrial warehouse space by the end of this year. Aegle has capacity to produce over 20 million masks and expects to provide over 100 jobs in the greater Houston Area by Q4 2021.

To learn more and purchase an Aegle mask, please visit aegleco.com.

About Aegle

Aegle (“egg-LEE”) is a healthtech manufacturing company that was founded by a team of Silicon Valley technology entrepreneurs and investors in response to shortages of personal protective equipment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We combine innovative engineering and technology to provide corporations and consumers the ability to authenticate our products through proprietary authentication and traceability technology and first-of-its-kind PPE data transparency. Our NIOSH-certified N95 masks are assembled in a HUB/Opportunity Zone in the Houston metro town of Brookshire, Texas, and we are committed to solving the overwhelming domestic demand for PPE from the federal, state, public, and private sectors. Our focus is to deliver socially responsible, innovative, and high-quality products that achieve and maintain safe work environments while mitigating the risk of infection. For more information, please visit aegleco.com.

About Ascend Performance Materials

Ascend Performance Materials makes high-performance materials for everyday essentials and new technologies. Our focus is on improving quality of life and inspiring a better tomorrow through innovation. Based in Houston, Texas, and with regional offices in Shanghai, Brussels and Detroit, we are a fully integrated material solutions provider with eight global manufacturing facilities in the United States, Europe and China. Our 2,600-person global workforce makes the plastics, fabrics, fibers and chemicals used to make safer vehicles, cleaner energy, better medical devices, smarter appliances and longer-lasting apparel and consumer goods. We are committed to safety, sustainability and the success of our customers and our communities.

Find out more about Ascend at ascendmaterials.com.

About Acteev: acteev.com

• Tests show >99% antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal efficacy¹
• EPA-registered zinc ions embedded in the polymer
• Hygroscopic nylon 6,6 fabric attracts moisture, which activates the zinc ions
• Not a topical treatment or coating
• Not dependent on silver, copper
• Proven efficacy in many end forms:
  • Knit and woven fabrics for consumer textiles, upholstery, uniforms, face masks
  • Nanofiber, meltblown and spunbond nonwovens for filtration
  • Fibers for carpets
  • Engineered plastics for high-touch surfaces

About United Food and Commercial Workers Union

UFCW International is the largest private sector union in the United States. UFCW International represents 1.3 million professionals and their families in healthcare, grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, retail shops and other industries. Our members serve our communities in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at ufcw.org.

¹ DISCLAIMER: Acteev™ technology has been shown in laboratory tests to destroy SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and other pathogens including H1N1, coronavirus 229E and Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria such as staphylococcus and E. coli. All data presented on this page comes from testing performed by independent third-party laboratories. Testing conducted on various end forms. Testing by University of Cambridge found a >3 log (99.9%) reduction in SARS-CoV-2 and H1N1 viruses upon instant contact on polyamide 66 textile fabric with Acteev technology as compared to an identical basis weight polyamide 66 textile fabric without Acteev technology. Acteev Protect does not protect users or others against disease-causing bacteria. Not all claims are permitted in all jurisdictions, including in the United States. Some device designs currently under review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Ascend has more than 15 patent families pending on Acteev technology.

Prosek Partners for Aegle
Carl Bakenhus
pro-aegle@prosek.com