Dr. Herb Moskowitz’s quest to invent something better than CHX resulted in his IoRinse family of molecular iodine oral rinses.

“I THINK MOST dentists fancy themselves as tinkerers and inventors of a sort,” says Dr. Herb Moskowitz (left, standing, with chemist Rodger Kolsky). His company, IoTech International, is the latest in a series of innovation-based business ventures he has spearheaded, beginning in 1983 with a less cumbersome jaw repositioner for TMJ and ortho patients, followed by lab technology for growing live human tissue in 1987 that he commercialized and took public—and, in the 1990s, development of a device for closing large tissue-deficit wounds without skin grafting, only sutures.

One Thing Leads to Another
Investing in an iodine company, though, piqued his interest in what he calls “the incredible biocidal efficacy of molecular iodine.” It got him thinking about “the negative sequelae associated with chlorhexidine gluconate. Although it’s the most commonly used periodontal rinse, it’s far from perfect.” He says his affili­ation with the iodine company “made me aware that of all the various species of iodine, only one species—molecular iodine—is actually biocidal and can kill germs. All the other iodine species contribute to toxicity and staining but do not kill germs. So I set out to develop stable, high-level, water-based molecular iodine solutions that had almost none of the other iodine species and that were non-staining.”

Development Heaven . . . or Hell?
Depending on how much you enjoy painstaking scientific trial and error, the next three years would qualify as either exhilarating or maddening. “IoRinse was developed by two experienced iodine chemists with my input. The first 18 months of that research was conducted in my garage at home,” Dr. Moskowitz says. “The second 18 months were done at a commercial laboratory we built specifically to complete the development of the product.” He also hired two independent U.S. labs to perform “hundreds of tests” on the efficacy of IoRinse versus other antiseptic rinses against key pathogens.

He went through so many different formulas that he doesn’t remember the number. “Thousands,” he supposes. “In arriving at the final flavor, alone we auditioned more than 50. Each of those was tested at several different concentrations.” Then there was testing to determine the compatibility (or lack thereof) between the flavoring and biocidal molecular iodine and, of course, the effectiveness of the rinse against several bacteria, fungi and viruses using various concentrations and time points. “When we did arrive at our winning candidate rinse,” he says, “we then had to test it for its efficacy compared to six other antiseptic rinses.” But that still wasn’t the end. “We then did one year of accelerated stability testing.”

A Better Mousetrap?
Dr. Moskowitz firmly believes that the latest and most consumer-friendly version of the IoRinse line, IoRinse Ultra, “is far more effective than any other periodontal rinse. By that, I mean it kills a broader spectrum of pathogens and does it more rapidly.” As proof, he cites independent test results against chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorine dioxide, povidone iodine, hydrogen peroxide and stabilized chlorine dioxide “under realistic intraoral conditions.” Secondly, he says, IoRinse is indica­ted for long-term use as part of a daily oral hygiene regimen. “Many other rinses allow microbial resistance to develop. IoRinse Ultra does not.”

He says it’s also safer and non-irritating to tissue by virtue of being alcohol-free, and does not cause calculus buildup. There’s even a side benefit: delivering an essential nutrient. “Our bodies cannot manufacture iodine, which is essential for us to produce thyroid hormones and avoid iodine deficiency diseases. That’s why governments around the world either recommend or mandate that table salt be iodized.”

Movin’ on up: IoTech’s post-garage lab and factory

The Future of Molecular Iodine
Any effective oral rinse with fewer downsides—whether actual or perceived—has the potential to help more patients treat their periodontal disease and potentially save lives. That’s vitally important, Dr. Moskowitz says, given that “the link between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease is so strong that even cardiovascular specialists consider periodontal disease to be a direct cause of cardiovascular disease.”

While IoTech International has, to date, been considered a dental company, Dr. Moskowitz says, “that is no longer true. Our core, best-in-class, patented technology has important applications in just about every industry. We have a robust new product development program in place to commercialize a number of the more important applications such as antiseptic eardrops, eyedrops and a sore-throat gargle.” Established companies in the agricultural and medical space have licensed the technology for global applications, he says, and an increasing number of oncologists and ENT specialists are recommending IoRinse products to their patients. An initial public offering, he says, is likely within two years.

Light at the end of the tunnel: Preproduction quality and batch testing

Made with love: Bottle filling and capping during the labor-intensive initial pilot production

At last, automation: Current IoRinse Ultra high-volume production (filling, capping, labeling and packaging) at the company’s fully FDA-approved manufacturing facility

Coming this year: IoRinse MR (Maximum Relief) oral rinse for oral mucositis, oral ulcers and dry mouth; IoRinse AC (Anti-Cavity) oral rinse, a novel hand sanitizer that Moskowitz says “is far more effective than any alcohol hand sanitizer”; plus a hard-surface disinfectant spray and wipes. “Each of these products has the potential to be market-disrupting.”

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF IOTECH INTERNATIONAL