Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's Iodine Research Wins 'Thesis Award' from Japan's Society for Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents, Inactivating Over 99.9% of SARS-CoV-2 in 15 Seconds
Key facts
- Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's Iodine Research Wins 'Thesis Award' from Japan's Society for Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents, Inactivating Over 99.9% of SARS-CoV-2 in 15 Seconds
- Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has won the 'Thesis Award' from the Society for Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents, Japan, for its research demonstrating that iodine can inactivate over 99.9% of viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and influenza within a short period of 15 seconds. The methods used to visually capture virus inactivation, such as time-lapse video, were also highly praised. The company hopes this research will contribute to infectious disease control measures.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: June 3, 2026
Direct answer
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has won the 'Thesis Award' from the Society for Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents, Japan, for its research demonstrating that iodine can inactivate over 99.9% of viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and influenza within a short period of 15 seconds. The methods used to visually capture virus inactivation, such as time-lapse video, were also highly praised. The company hopes this research will contribute to infectious disease control measures.
- Citation
- Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's Iodine Research Wins 'Thesis Award' from Japan's Society for Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents, Inactivating Over 99.9% of SARS-CoV-2 in 15 Seconds (June 3, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- June 3, 2026
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has won the 'Thesis Award' from the Society for Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents, Japan, for its research demonstrating that iodine can inactivate over 99.9% of viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and influenza within a short period of 15 seconds. The methods used to visually capture virus inactivation, such as time-lapse video, were also highly praised. The company hopes this research will contribute to infectious disease control measures.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 3, 2026 at 22:00
- 🔍 Collected: June 3, 2026 at 13:21
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 3, 2026 at 13:40 (18 min after Collected)
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has received the 'Thesis Award' at the 54th General Meeting of the Society for Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents, Japan (May 29, 2026, in Osaka) for its research on 'The Inactivating Effect of Iodine on SARS-CoV-2 and the Virus Inactivation and Germicidal Effects of Oral and Pharyngeal Medicines.' This award is given to the most outstanding paper published in the society's journal over the past year.
■ Key Research Findings
- Research on the virus-inactivating effect of 'iodine' won the 'Thesis Award' at the 54th General Meeting of the Society for Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents, Japan.
- An iodine aqueous solution inactivated over 99.9% of viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and influenza within 15 seconds of application.
- The methodology, which visually demonstrated the antiviral effect of iodine using time-lapse video and electron microscopy, was highly evaluated.
In recent years, following the influenza epidemic and the spread of COVID-19, society as a whole has demanded more reliable infection control measures. While the effectiveness of disinfectant ingredients like iodine against certain viruses was known, the inactivating effect in a shorter time frame relevant to actual use, and the difference in effectiveness compared to other ingredients at the same concentration, had not been fully verified. To address this, the company conducted in vitro experiments in collaboration with a third-party testing organization.
1. Various Viruses Inactivated by 99.9% or More with 15 Seconds of Iodine Action
A 0.5w/w% iodine aqueous solution was applied to various viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A, for 15 seconds, confirming an inactivation effect (loss of infectivity) of over 99.9%. A comparative evaluation was also conducted with other disinfectant/anti-inflammatory ingredients used in commercial oral and pharyngeal medicines (Cetylpyridinium Chloride Hydrate: CPC, Sodium Azulene Sulfonate: Azulene), indicating that iodine may have a superior virus-inactivating effect under the same concentration and time conditions.
2. Successful Visualisation of Virus Inactivation
After applying a 0.5w/w% iodine aqueous solution to SARS-CoV-2 for 15 seconds, the state of host cells upon inoculation was observed with time-lapse video. While cells without iodine treatment showed progressive degeneration and destruction, cells treated with iodine were observed to maintain a state similar to before infection. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy of these cells showed no virus particles, and the ciliary structure on the cell surface was maintained without destruction. Additionally, transmission electron microscopy of influenza A virus treated with the iodine solution confirmed denaturation of the virus's envelope.
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has been conducting basic research on disinfectant ingredients like iodine for some time. The company believes this research, as knowledge of its effectiveness against viruses, will contribute to infectious disease control research and be of service to society.
FAQ
小林製薬が受賞した「論文賞」とは何ですか？
日本防菌防黴学会が、1年間に同学会誌に掲載された論文の中で最も優れたものに与える賞です。小林製薬はヨウ素のウイルス不活化効果に関する研究で受賞しました。
研究で確認されたヨウ素の効果は具体的に何ですか？
0.5w/w%ヨウ素水溶液を15秒間作用させることで、新型コロナウイルスやA型インフルエンザウイルスを99.9%以上不活化（感染性を失わせる）する効果が確認されました。
この研究のどの点が特に高く評価されたのですか？
ヨウ素の抗ウイルス効果をタイムラプス動画や電子顕微鏡を用いて視覚的に実証した手法が高く評価されました。これにより、ウイルスが細胞に感染するのを防ぐ様子が明確に捉えられました。
ヨウ素は他の殺菌成分と比較してどうですか？
市販の口腔咽喉薬に用いられる他の成分（CPC、アズレン）と同一濃度・同一時間で比較した結果、ヨウ素の方が優れたウイルス不活化効果を持つ可能性が示唆されました。
この研究結果は人体にも同様に当てはまりますか？
いいえ、この研究は試験管内での実験（in vitro）であり、培養細胞での結果です。そのため、必ずしも人体での現象を反映するものではありません。