Canadian Company’s Nasal Photodisinfection Technology Shortlisted for Prestigious Biomedical Award
VANCOUVER, British Columbia–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Ondine Biomedical, a Canadian company, has achieved a significant milestone as its Steriwave nasal photodisinfection technology has been shortlisted for the biomedical category of the highly acclaimed 2024 international society for optics and photonics SPIE Prism Awards. Ondine’s groundbreaking technology has revolutionized the healthcare industry by effectively reducing hospital-acquired infections. The innovative nasal photodisinfection treatment utilizes a combination of a photosensitive agent and red laser light to eliminate bacteria, viruses, and fungi within minutes, without generating resistance.
The five-minute painless treatment known as nasal photodisinfection involves using a patented photosensitive agent and specific non-UV light to trigger photochemical reactions that produce reactive oxygen species. These reactive oxygen species have proven to be lethal to a wide range of microbes, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
CEO of Ondine, Carolyn Cross, expressed her delight at the wider recognition of photodisinfection as a technology that has the potential to transform healthcare. With the alarming rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the future may see even simple infections becoming life-threatening. Ondine’s nasal photodisinfection technology represents a new approach to combating infections, one that does not lead to the development of resistance like antibiotics.
Photodisinfection has demonstrated high effectiveness against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including extensively drug-resistant strains, without any signs of resistance formation. This breakthrough places photodisinfection at the forefront of the battle against AMR, a major public health concern that caused 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019. Shockingly, the death rate due to AMR is projected to surge to 10 million by 2050.
The use of nasal photodisinfection is already widespread in hospitals across Canada, Europe, and Mexico as a preventive measure against healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) following surgery. Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the most common HAIs and impose a significant burden on both healthcare systems and patients, with estimated costs of up to $100,000 for treating a prosthetic hip or knee infection.
Implementing Steriwave in pre-surgical procedures has resulted in remarkable improvements in post-surgical outcomes. The benefits include reduced infection rates, shorter patient hospital stays, fewer readmissions, lower antibiotic prescription rates, and substantial cost savings.
Apart from its application in hospitals, Ondine’s photodisinfection technology has a wide range of other uses. These include treating chronic rhinosinusitis, decolonizing burns and wounds, and disinfecting endotracheal tubes to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia. Ondine has also successfully completed a proof-of-concept study demonstrating that photodisinfection effectively eliminates pathogens commonly found in meat processing facilities, as well as those present on fresh-cut chicken, beef, and pork.
The SPIE Prism Awards, hosted by the international society for optics and photonics, celebrate industrial innovation in photonics. The CEO of SPIE, Kent Rochford, noted that these awards acknowledge the immense impact that optics and photonics technologies have on improving lives. The optics and photonics industry plays a crucial role in making the world a better place, and the Prism Awards provide an opportunity to honor the scientists, engineers, and companies responsible for these extraordinary advancements. The winners will be celebrated at the Photonics West event in January.
Ondine Biomedical Inc., headquartered in Canada, is a leading innovator in the field of photodisinfection therapies. Leveraging its proprietary photodisinfection platform, Ondine has developed a pipeline of investigational products for numerous medical indications, including chronic sinusitis, ventilator-associated pneumonia, burns, and others.
In conclusion, Ondine Biomedical’s nasal photodisinfection technology being shortlisted for the prestigious SPIE Prism Awards highlights its groundbreaking impact on combating hospital-acquired infections. With its ability to eliminate antibiotic-resistant bacteria and its widespread use in hospitals, this innovative technology has the potential to revolutionize healthcare and address the global concern of antimicrobial resistance.
