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(Sharecast News) - Ondine Biomedical announced the completion of a landmark 291-patient clinical study using its Steriwave nasal photodisinfection technology in the intensive care unit at Royal Columbian Hospital in British Columbia on Monday, marking the first such study in critically ill ICU patients globally.
The AIM-traded firm said the pilot study evaluated the safety, feasibility, and clinical integration of Steriwave as a non-antibiotic approach to reducing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), which affect around 12% to 13% of ICU admissions and are a leading cause of mortality in critical care settings.
Over 62% of ICU-acquired infections originate in the respiratory tract and are often caused by Gram-negative bacteria that are not targeted by conventional topical antibiotics.
"We are pleased to complete this important pilot investigating Steriwave's role in reducing ICU-acquired infections," said Dr Steven Reynolds, head of ICU research at Royal Columbian Hospital.
"Reducing these infections not only improves patient outcomes but also helps ease pressure on nursing resources and ICU capacity.
"Nasal photodisinfection provides the opportunity of reducing patient risk of infection while avoiding antimicrobial resistance."
Steriwave, Ondine's patented technology, uses a light-activated antimicrobial agent to eliminate gram-negative, gram-positive, viral, and fungal pathogens in under five minutes, without promoting resistance.
The technology had already been adopted in surgical settings and was now being explored for broader use in critical care.
Carolyn Cross, CEO of Ondine Biomedical, called the study's completion a major milestone for the company.
"With ICU infection rates at an unacceptably high 12% to 13%, producing high mortality, a better solution to infection control is urgently needed," she said.
"Steriwave offers a resistance-free, rapid approach to reducing infections and improving patient outcomes.
"Steriwave currently stands as the only antimicrobial proven to eliminate a broad range of multidrug-resistant pathogens from the nose within minutes, without fostering antimicrobial resistance."
The study was supported by the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation's Advancing Innovation in Medicine (AIM) programme.
Ondine said Steriwave is currently the only nasal antimicrobial platform offering immediate, broad-spectrum pathogen elimination without disrupting the body's natural microbiome or contributing to the global crisis of antimicrobial resistance.
At 0806 BST, shares in Ondine Biomedical were up 1.28% at 13.17p.
Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
