A NEW natural treatment for head lice has been patented by an Oxfordshire company.

The naturally-occurring plant compounds are used in a mild, non-acidic alcohol-free shampoo, says the company XiMed, which employs 15 people at Harwell International Business Centre.

The "food-grade" materials in the shampoo affect the external skeleton of the lice, but XiMed says they are unlikely to be toxic to humans.

The organo-phosphates used in most current treatments can be dangerous and if wrongly used can cause the lice to become resistant to treatment.

Parents are now often advised to use conditioner and a special comb to remove the lice and eggs instead of treating them.

XiMed says resistance is unlikely to build up with its natural remedy.

The company has started the first stage of testing to satisfy regulators and is planning clinical trials on volunteers early next year. If all goes well the product will be submitted for licensing at the end of 2000 and on the market in 2001.

The company owns the worldwide rights.

A spokesman for XiMed, Karen Williams, said: "As the highest incidence of head lice infestations is seen in children aged between five and 12, this market is in serious need of new treatments to prevent head lice infestations reaching epidemic proportions."

The company currently has one product on the market through its subsidiary Phytogenics - Prevacan, a food supplement containing soy and flax, providing natural oestrogen to combat menopausal symptoms. It is developing four other products.

Story date: Wednesday 17 November

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.