M. P. Ramachandran
,Chairman & Managing Director, Jyothy
Laboratories Ltd. and Dr. Prahlada, Distinguished
Scientist & Chief Controller R&D
(Ae & SI), DRDO, launch the "Maxo
Millitary & Maxo - Safe & Soft "
a multi-insect repellent. Photo: Kamal Narang
According to DRDO, the artificially developed
molecules in the cream interfere with the
sensory mechanism of the mosquito, so that
the insect is unable to detect human blood.
The DRDO now unveils a new insect repellent
cream against mosquitoes, vectors of diseases
like malaria, and dengue.
Launching the ‘Maxo Military’
and ‘Maxo Safe and & Soft Wipes,’
DRDO said the cream based product will fool
the mosquitoes, will have a pleasant fragrance
and will not block your skin pores - a common
problem with such products.
“This cream is based on a uniquely
configured, researched and tested molecule
which acts like a decoy and cheats the mosquito.
It does not allow mosquitoes to sense the
presence of human blood in their vicinity,”
Prahlada, Chief Controller, Research &
Development, of Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) told reporters.
According to DRDO, the artificially developed
molecules in the cream interfere with the
sensory mechanism of the mosquito and stop
it from biting the humans.
Research and developed by DRDO, the product
would be manufactured and marketed by Jyothy
Laboratories Limited which also holds the
license to sell it outside the defence forces.
The first of its kind mosquito repellent
has been developed under a special technology
commercialisation programme signed between
the DRDO and Federation of Indian Chambers
of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
DRDO and FICCI signed the Accelerated Technology
Assessment & Commercialisation (ATAC)
programme in 2009 and have successfully
commercialised more than 20 products for
mass production by private industries.
“The cream has been developed keeping
in mind the requirement of soldiers posted
in forest and swampy areas. These soldiers
are always susceptible to mosquito-borne
diseases like malaria, chikungunya and dengue,”
said M. P. Ramachandran, Chairman and Managing
Director, Jyothy Labs.
Based on Diethyl Phenyl Acetamide (DEPA)
technology, the product has gone under a
series of advancements after its initial
launch a few years ago.
Talking about the advance researches in
the mosquito repellent creams, Mr. Prahlada
said, “Mosquito repellent creams actually
block the skin pores by sticking to it,
and do not allow the skin to breathe.
“But this wipe does not block the
skin pores, allowing it to breathe with
a good fragrance. It gives a very smooth
and comfortable feeling just like that of
a facial cream or a moisturiser,” he
added.
Besides Indian Army, the cream would also
be supplied to the central paramilitary
forces, engaged in border policing and naxal-infested
areas.