In a groundbreaking development for virus protection technology, Italian biotech firm e4life has engineered devices that harness electromagnetic waves to neutralize respiratory viruses with over 90% efficacy. Through precise frequency targeting, these innovative devices create resonance effects that disrupt viral structures while remaining safe for humans and animals. Middle East Health speaks with CEO Vincenzo Pompa about this revolutionary approach to biodefense, which stands to transform how we protect indoor spaces from viral threats, including COVID-19, RSV, and influenza variants.
Middle East Health: Rome, Italy-based e4life has developed a range of devices that use electromagnetic waves to neutralise respiratory viruses. Can you explain in simple terms how your electromagnetic wave technology actually works to neutralize viruses? And what viruses has it been shown to neutralise?
Vincenzo Pompa: E4life is based on the transmission of microwaves which, at a specific combination of frequency and power, act on the balance between the internal positive charges of the virus and the negative charges present in the capsid or outer shell, giving rise to a “resonance” phenomenon that destroys the external envelope of the virus and effectively inhibits its power to spread and be transmitted from one individual to another.
To figure out how it works, let’s imagine an opera singer who makes a glass explode with his voice: the right frequency is capable of making the glass resonate and break it.
This solution has an efficacy of over 90% against Covid, including recent variants, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and seasonal flu (in this case the effectiveness exceeds 95%), Avian Flu and Swine Flu.
Middle East Health: What made you decide to develop this specific approach to virus protection, rather than traditional air filtration or chemical methods?
Vincenzo Pompa: Compared to filters, e4life has an advantage in terms of sanitization time: the e4life devices exploit the speed of propagation of the waves (the speed of light) to sanitize in almost real time (compared to filters which can take hours to sanitize a room). Compared to other technologies (such as UV or ozone) the use of e4life devices is compatible with the presence of humans or animals. It therefore has clear innovative advantages compared to more “traditional” technologies. In addition, the e4life devices do not use chemical products and they do not have any consumables, resulting in a “green” solution with a very low energy need.
Middle East Health: Your company emphasizes the ‘One Health’ concept integrating human, animal, and environmental health. Could you elaborate on how this philosophy is shaping your R&D pipeline?
Vincenzo Pompa: The One Health concept drives everything we do, the passion that we put into our work every day and the motivation that guides us. That’s why we adopt a systemic perspective, capable of respecting and uniting different elements of equal importance. Our goal is to revolutionize the biodefense sector through our solutions which allow each individual to enjoy a natural social life, interacting in safe spaces with no concerns or worries.
Middle East Health: As you explained, the technology operates through electromagnetic waves creating a resonance effect on viral capsids. Could you tell us more about the different devices e4life has developed? And can you explain the specific frequency ranges used and how you ensure these frequencies only target viral structures without affecting other biological systems?
Vincenzo Pompa: There are currently three e4life products available: for humans we have e4life personal, which is the portable, lightweight, compact version (100 grams x 8.5 cm), SAR certified. It is comfortable and safe to wear and is able to inactivate viruses by generating a “bubble” with a diameter of about three meters. Then, always for humans, there is e4life ambient which is the “fixed” version to be installed either on ceiling or walls with a range of action covering about 50 square meters.
Lastly there is e4life farm, the device dedicated to livestock farms and designed to combat animal viral diseases (actually Avian Flu and Swine Flu) which represent a threat to chicken, turkey and pigs.
We did tests in laboratories with real viruses using Italian BSL3 (Biosafety Level 3 Laboratories) and measuring the residual infectivity after exposure to our waves. The effectiveness is demonstrated by various publications (“Viruses”, “European Society of Medicine” and “Nature Scientific Reports”) and test reports carried out by the universities we collaborate with.
The specific frequency is what differentiates e4life from other devices. The frequencies are different for the different viruses, but all included in the range between 9 and 13 GHz. As highlighted in some studies, human cells are sensitive to around 100 MHz, therefore a completely different dimensional scale. The frequency used by e4life is actually lower than common cell phones or Wi-Fi.
Middle East Health: While you’ve reported 90%+ efficacy rates from several institutions including the University of Milan, Celio Military Hospital and University of Genoa, what specific testing protocols were used to simulate real-world conditions, particularly regarding air flow patterns and viral load concentrations? What were the key findings that convinced you this technology was ready for market? Can you please provide some references to these studies?
Vincenzo Pompa: All the tests we did in laboratories confirmed the efficacy reported. The tests have been done in different structures, with different equipment and teams, such as the Celio Military Hospital, the independent ViroStatics Institute, Milan University’s Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, the Bio-Medico Campus at the University of Rome, the University of Genoa. Studies have also been published in scientific journals, i.e. Viruses and the European Society of Medicine journals (Source: www.Esmed.org), and Nature Scientific Reports, which describes a study demonstrating the effectiveness of electromagnetic waves in inactivating the avian flu virus.
Furthermore, the JRC–HERA technological prospective study by the European Commission Joint Research Centre includes this technology among that which is currently available that can guarantee an increase in air quality in indoor environments.
Last but not least, in collaboration with University of Udine (Italy) we have started a project in a local retirement home. This test will have a duration of 8 months to measure the total air infectivity in buildings with our devices installed vs buildings that are not protected with our devices.
< See: European Commission – JRC Publications Repository, Suppressing indoor pathogen transmission: A Technology Foresight study https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC137325>
Middle East Health: Looking at the current market, where do you see the most immediate applications for this technology – hospitals, offices, homes, or somewhere else?
Vincenzo Pompa: We have to split between human viruses and animal viruses. For human viruses our devices could be installed in crowded areas to reduce the infection risks (for example, waiting rooms, trains, universities, schools, and so on). The solution developed for animal viruses can be installed on farms (these are specifically industrial devices) to protect animals and indirectly to protect persons from potential virus spill-over risks.
Middle East Health: What has been the response from healthcare professionals and potential customers who have seen the technology in action?
Vincenzo Pompa: Some doctors are enthusiastic and, actually, they are either our clients or we collaborate with them to improve our research. Our existing Advisory Board is a perfect example of this. Then there are sceptical doctors too, but we are convincing them. The recent publications we have help reinforce our scientific credibility.
Middle East Health: Why have you chosen to focus on the Middle East market at this stage?
Vincenzo Pompa: We took part in Arab Health 2024 in Dubai and have developed strong relationships and partnerships that we are still working with. In addition, the Middle East is a very “dynamic” market where innovation is always welcome.
Middle East Health: What specific health challenges in the Middle East region do you think your technology could help address?
Vincenzo Pompa: Many contacts and references have underlined the prevalence of RSV in this region. For animal viruses, during this year, we will test our technology against camel and goat viruses.
- The e4life devices for humans are available for sale on the official website: https://store.e4.life/it/
- You can visit e4life at Arab Health 2025 at booth: H7.G18
