WHO calls for better infection prevention

RNS Number : 9313K

Ondine Biomedical Inc.

10 May 2022

 

10 May 2022

ONDINE BIOMEDICAL INC.

("Ondine Biomedical", "Ondine" or the "Company")

World Health Organization calls for better infection prevention to tackle the epidemic of hospital-acquired infections

Ondine Biomedical Inc. (AIM: OBI), announces that the World Health Organization (the "WHO") has called for improvements to infection prevention and control ("IPC") protocols in hospitals, to tackle the rapidly rising rates of hospital-acquired infections. New technology, such as nasal photodisinfection, to prevent and treat these infections could be key to reducing overall infection rates, including infections that are resistant to antibiotics.

Figures released by the WHO suggest that seven out of every 100 patients in acute-care hospitals in high-income countries, and 15 of every 100 patients in low and middle-income countries, will acquire at least one health care-associated infection ("HAI") during their hospital stay. On average, one in every ten affected patients will die from their HAI.*

The WHO is "calling on all countries around the globe to increase their investment in IPC programmes to ensure quality of care and patient and health workers' safety. This will not only protect their populations, but increased investment in IPC has also demonstrated to improve health outcomes and reduce health-care costs and out-of-pocket expenses.*"

A key aspect of improving IPC is new technology, especially technology that is not susceptible to antimicrobial resistance such as the innovation developed by Ondine. Ondine's technology uses photodisinfection to target infection-causing pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Ondine's nasal photodisinfection technology, Steriwave™, has been used in Canadian hospitals for ten years in the prevention of hospital-acquired infections, where it demonstrated an up to 84% reduction of postoperative infection rates, as well as significant cost savings.  

The Steriwave photodisinfection process, known in the scientific community as antimicrobial photodynamic disinfection therapy ("aPDT"), works by using a specific wavelength of laser light to excite a photosensitizer that targets bacteria, viruses and fungi. This combination treatment rapidly destroys cell membranes and surface proteins of pathogens without producing resistance . Steriwave photodisinfection technology has been shown to be safe and effective against drug-resistant pathogens.

The nose and upper airway have been identified as the primary reservoir for many threatening pathogens including MRSA, Candida auris, and SARS-CoV-2. Ondine's Steriwave nasal photodisinfection therapy can rapidly and painlessly eradicate pathogens in the nose, and is currently being clinically trialled for the suppression of SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission.

Steriwave is CE marked and approved for use in Canada and a number of other countries. Additional clinical trials are currently underway to secure regulatory approval in the United States.

**ENDS**

About Ondine Biomedical Inc.

Ondine Biomedical Inc. (AIM: OBI) is a Canadian headquartered, medical device company led by founder and CEO, Carolyn Cross. Ondine has developed a patented, painless, photodisinfection technology platform used in treatment and prevention therapies for a broad-spectrum of pathogens - including multidrug-resistant strains. Photodisinfection is a targeted antimicrobial which uses non-thermal light to activate a photosensitive agent. In a few minutes, this light-based therapy destroys the pathogens' cell membranes and surface proteins through an oxidative burst without any impact on human tissue. 

Ondine has a pipeline of products, based on its patent protected photodisinfection platform, in various stages of development. Products include treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis, decolonisation of infections in burns and wounds, disinfection of endotracheal tubes to reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia and most recently, the development of topical antiviral therapy for the upper respiratory tract to reduce viral titres and transmission of respiratory viruses (e.g., SARS-CoV-2, influenza, RSV, etc.). Ondine's technology is approved in a number of jurisdictions and has been awarded the CE mark, as well as Qualified Infectious Disease Product and Fast Track status in the U.S. by the FDA.

For more information, please visit:  www.ondinebio.com or contact: 

Ondine Biomedical Inc.
Carolyn Cross, CEO	[phone]
Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated and Financial Adviser)
James Harris, James Dance	[phone]
Arden Partners plc (Broker)
Ruari McGirr, Antonio Bossi	[phone]
Vane Percy & Roberts (Media Contact)
Simon Vane Percy, Amanda Bernard	[phone]

Notes:

* https://www.who.int/news/item/06-05-2022-who-launches-first-ever-global-report-on-infection-prevention-and-control

 

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