More News from Vystar Corporation

ATLANTA - July 30, 2009 - Vystar Corporation and Alatech Healthcare, LLC announced 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market and sell the first exam gloves manufactured with Vytex® Natural Rubber Latex (NRL). Alatech plans to introduce exam gloves made with Vytex NRL in the near future.

This marks the second Vytex NRL product to receive 510(k) clearance from the FDA in a new line of all natural infection control offerings. Alatech's Envy™ Natural Rubber Latex condom made with Vytex NRL received FDA clearance in May and is expected to be available later this year.

Vystar's patented Vytex NRL is an environmentally friendly material that contains virtually undetectable levels of the antigenic proteins that can cause an allergic response, while retaining and improving upon the desirable qualities of latex. Alatech's exam gloves made with Vytex will carry the protein label claim of less than 50 µg/dm2 or less of total extractable protein per glove.

Vystar's CEO, William Doyle, said, "Vystar is excited to add exam gloves as the second Vytex NRL product with FDA 510(k) clearance. This is a significant and promising development for the future growth of our company since the glove category is the largest market for natural rubber latex. Because Vytex NRL is a natural, renewable product, Vystar is well positioned as a producer of eco-conscious raw materials for more than 40,000 products that contain natural rubber latex or petroleum-based synthetics.

Alatech President & CEO Lawrence Povlacs said, "Alatech views its relationship with Vystar as a strategic partnership for introducing a category of revolutionary natural products in the healthcare arena that represents the first line of defense in infection control for caregivers, patients and consumers globally."

According to the American Latex Allergy Association, approximately 17 percent of healthcare workers and up to three percent of the general population in the U.S. experience allergies or sensitivities to traditional latex.

More than 55 manufacturing trials are underway worldwide for gloves and other products made with Vytex NRL including medical and non-medical gloves, foam mattresses and pillows, bandages, adhesives and more. The Vystar Professional Support Team™ provides technical and marketing consultants who provide a wide range of expertise to manufacturing partners on compounding, conducting trials, interpreting results and developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for successful manufacturing conversion and startup.

Rubber slumps 4.1% on speculation price rally may weaken demand

Thursday, July 30, 2009
According to an article in bloomberg.com by Jae Hur and Aya Takada, "Rubber slumped by as much as 4.1 percent amid speculation demand for the commodity used to make tires may slow after prices jumped to the highest in more than eight months.
Futures in Tokyo declined after gaining 22 percent in the previous 10 days. The 14-day relative strength index for rubber futures, a gauge of momentum, climbed above 70 this week, a level signaling prices may decline. “Rubber futures went up too much," Shuji Sugata, research manager at Mitsubishi Corp. Futures & Securities Ltd., said today in a phone interview.

"The price appears to have achieved its target level of around 190 yen, where some investors want to cash in.” Rubber for January delivery settled at 181.9 yen a kilogram ($1,932 a metric ton) on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange, down 3.8 percent from its settlement yesterday.

The new benchmark contract touched 190.1 yen on its debut yesterday, the highest intraday price since Nov. 10. A drop in crude oil prices also put pressure on rubber futures, making the synthetic rival more attractive than natural rubber, Sugata said.

Crude oil for September delivery fell 1.7 percent to $66.06 a barrel at 4:31 a.m. in Tokyo. Oil dropped for the second day after U.S. equities fell and a report showed increased crude supplies in the world’s biggest energy consuming nation.
Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, the three-largest rubber producers, may deepen a planned supply reduction this year as the recession curbs consumption, Abdul Rasip Latiff, chief executive officer of the International Rubber Consortium Ltd., said July 26. The three producing countries will cut shipments by as much as 48,000 tons a month in the second half, Latiff said July 15. The trio reduced exports by 540,000 tons in the first five months of the year, more than the 414,000 ton reduction planned for the first half, he said.