This Announcement contains inside
information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation No. 596/2014 as it forms part of
UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 as
amended. Upon the publication of this Announcement, this
inside information is now considered to be in the public
domain.
ONDINE BIOMEDICAL
INC.
("Ondine
Biomedical", "Ondine", or the "Company")
Mölnlycke® and
Ondine Join Forces Against HAIs
Mölnlycke Health Care
partners with Ondine for Steriwave distribution collaboration in
the key markets of the UK, Europe and the Middle
East
Ondine Biomedical Inc. (LON:
OBI), a Canadian life sciences company pioneering light-activated
antimicrobial treatments, and Mölnlycke Health Care (Gothenburg
Sweden), a world-leading MedTech company that specializes in innovative solutions for wound care and
surgical procedures, are pleased to announce a strategic
partnership to bring Ondine's Steriwave® nasal
decolonization technology to the United Kingdom, EU, and Middle
East markets.
This collaboration marks a
significant milestone in the fight against healthcare-associated
infections (HAIs) and the growing threat of antimicrobial
resistance (AMR), as Steriwave safely reduces hospital infections
without generating AMR. Steriwave, a non-antibiotic,
light-activated nasal decolonization therapy, has been clinically
proven[1][2][3]-[4][5] to reduce harmful pathogens in
the nasal passages, a common source of HAIs and cause of higher
rates of mortality, length of stay and readmissions. Mölnlycke's
established distribution networks, strong brand and market presence
in over 100 countries make it an ideal partner to accelerate the
adoption of Steriwave.
The first market focus starting
later this year, is the pivotal UK market where Steriwave is
already deployed several National Health Service (NHS) Trusts,
including, Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust and Leeds Teaching
Hospital NHS Trust. Steriwave is also listed with NHS Supply
Chain, a national body that manages the sourcing, delivery and
supply of healthcare products to the NHS and healthcare
organizations in England and Wales. The UK market, with a total
addressable market of over 3 million major surgeries
annually[6]
and over 200,000 annual intensive care unit (ICU)
admissions,[7] has significant global influence in
setting best practice for patient care.
Mölnlycke® will
incorporate Steriwave as a key product in its infection control
portfolio, enhancing its product offerings with a focus on
preventing HAIs and reducing AMR. Distribution will commence in the
UK in Q4 2024, followed by expansion into the EU and Middle East
regions in 2025, leveraging Mölnlycke's extensive market presence
to ultimately broaden the impact of this innovative technology on a
global scale. Mölnlycke will spearhead
sales and marketing efforts across the UK, EU, and Middle
East.
Lina Karlsson, Executive Vice
President Antiseptics, Mölnlycke, stated: "Mölnlycke's purpose is to revolutionize care for people and
planet. In the Antiseptics business area, we do this by making
patient skin decolonization manageable and motivational. We believe
that Steriwave can improve the lives of millions of people, fitting
perfectly with our purpose and mission. The ability to rapidly
eliminate multiple drug-resistant pathogens without generating
antimicrobial resistance is key to our sustainability initiative,
and complements our Hibiwash® brand skin prep line,
enabling us to provide comprehensive 'nose-to-toes' decolonization
prior to surgery. Universal decolonization is now a well-accepted
practice to improve surgical outcomes and produce significant cost
savings to healthcare systems."
Carolyn Cross, CEO of Ondine
Biomedical, commented: "We are excited to be partnering with
Mölnlycke Health Care, whose global reach, corporate vision and
commitment to sustainable healthcare aligns perfectly with our own
core values, purpose and mission. The Mölnlycke collaboration
represents a transformative step towards our ambitious plans to
combat HAIs and antimicrobial resistance globally. We look
forward to working with Mölnlycke in these initial key markets and
beyond."
HAIs remain a critical challenge
across the world, consuming approximately 6% of European public
sector budgets[8] and resulting in significant
costs, avoidable deaths, and human suffering. Post-surgical
infections, in particular, extend recovery times and often require
prolonged antibiotic treatment, something the UK government is
actively seeking to reduce as part of its
5-year action plan for antimicrobial
resistance, published in May
2024.
Nasal decolonization is recommended
in the 2016 WHO Global guidelines for the prevention of surgical
site infections,[9] and the Society for Healthcare
Epidemiology of America (SHEA) guidelines, published in May 2023,
recommend nasal decolonization for major surgical
procedures.[10]
Steriwave uses a patented
light-activated agent to rapidly eliminate infection-causing
pathogens in a single, 5-minute treatment. The process works so
rapidly that pathogens do not have the opportunity to develop
resistance,[11] making it an effective alternative to
antibiotics. Hospitals using Steriwave have reported high levels of
staff and patient compliance. Steriwave has also been proven to be
highly effective against drug-resistant pathogens. A
2023 study showed that Steriwave is
highly effective (>99.99% kills in 20 seconds) against both
moderately drug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant
(XDR) pathogens.
-Ends-
About Mölnlycke Health Care
Mölnlycke Health Care is a
world-leading MedTech company that specializes in innovative
solutions for wound care and surgical procedures. Mölnlycke
products and solutions are used daily by hospitals, health care
providers and patients in over 100 countries around the
world. Founded in 1849, Mölnlycke is owned by Investor AB
and headquartered in Sweden. www.molnlycke.com
About Ondine Biomedical Inc.
Ondine Biomedical Inc. is a Canadian
life sciences company and leader innovating light-activated
antimicrobial therapies (also known as 'photodisinfection'). In
addition to Steriwave, Ondine has a pipeline of products, based on
its proprietary photodisinfection technology, in various stages of
development.
Ondine's nasal photodisinfection
system has a CE mark in Europe and the UK and is approved in Canada
and several other countries under the name Steriwave®.
In the US, it has been granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product
designation and Fast Track status by the FDA and is currently
undergoing clinical trials for regulatory approval. Products beyond
nasal photodisinfection include therapies for a variety of medical
indications such as chronic sinusitis, ventilator-associated
pneumonia, burns, and other indications.
About Steriwave®
Ondine's Steriwave nasal
photodisinfection system is a patented technology using a
proprietary light-activated antimicrobial (photosensitizer) to
destroy bacteria, viruses, and fungi colonizing the nose. The
photodisinfection treatment is carried out by a trained healthcare
professional and is an easy-to-use, painless, two-step process. The
photosensitizer is applied to each nostril using a nasal swab,
followed by illumination of the area with a specific wavelength of
red laser light for less than five minutes. The light activates the
photosensitizer, causing an oxidative burst that is lethal to all
types of pathogens without causing long-term adverse effects on the
nasal microbiome. A key benefit of this approach - unlike
antibiotics, which have resistance rates reported as high as
81%[12] - is that pathogens do not
develop resistance to the therapy.
Enquiries:
Ondine Biomedical
Inc.
|
|
Angelika Vance, Vice President of
Corporate Communications
|
+001 604 838
2702
|
|
|
Mölnlycke Health Care
|
|
Mathilda Blomsterberg, Global
Communications Manager Antiseptics
|
+46 737 73
38 14
|
|
|
Singer Capital Markets (Nominated Adviser, Joint Broker)
|
|
Phil Davies, Sam
Butcher
|
+44 (0)20 7496
3000
|
|
|
RBC
Capital Markets (Joint
Broker)
|
|
Rupert Walford, Kathryn
Deegan
|
+44
(0)20 7653 4000
|
|
|
Vane Percy & Roberts (Media
Contact for Ondine Biomedial)
|
+44 (0)77
1000 5910
|
Simon Vane Percy, Amanda
Bernard
|
|
[1] Bryce E, Wong T,
Forrester L, et al. Nasal photodisinfection
and chlorhexidine wipes decrease surgical site infections: a
historical control study and propensity analysis [published
correction appears in J Hosp Infect. 2015 Sep;91(1):93]. J Hosp
Infect. 2014;88(2):89-95. (link)
[2] Moskven E,
Banaszek D, Sayre EC, et al. Effectiveness
of prophylactic intranasal photodynamic disinfection therapy and
chlorhexidine gluconate body wipes for surgical site infection
prophylaxis in adult spine surgery. Can J
Surg. 2023;66(6):E550-E560. (link)
[3] Ondine
Biomedical's nasal photodisinfection cuts surgical site infections
by 66%. Press release 18 April 2023 (link)
[4] Pre-op Nasal
Decolonization via Photodisinfection: A Pilot Study in Spinal
Surgery Procedures at the Ottawa Hospital. Poster presentation at
IPAC Canada 2023 National Conference. (link)
[5] Street C, Pedigo
L, Gibbs A, et al. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for the
decolonization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from
the anterior nares. In: Kessel DH, editor. Photodynamic therapy:
back to the future. 12th World Congress of the International
Photodynamic Association. Vol. 7380 of Proceedings series.
Bellingham (WA): SPIE; 2009. (link)
[6] Surgical Procedure
Volumes in UK from 2021-2029. Life Science Intelligence; 2023 Jan.
Volume 23.
[7] Hospital Admitted
Patient Care Activity, 2011-22. Secondary Care Analytical Team, NHS
Digital. Health and Social Care Information Centre. 22 Sep 2022.
(link)
[8] OECD/European
Union (2020), Health at a Glance: Europe 2020: State of
Health in the EU Cycle, OECD Publishing, Paris.
(link)
[9] Surgical Site
Infection Prevention: Key facts on decolonization of nasal carriers
of Staphylococcus aureus. World Health Organization.
(link)
[10] Calderwood
MS, Anderson DJ, Bratzler DW, et al. Strategies to prevent surgical
site infections in acute-care hospitals: 2022 Update. Infect
Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2023;44(5):695-720. (link)
[11] Pedigo LA,
Gibbs AJ, Scott RJ, et al. Absence of bacterial resistance
following repeat exposure to photodynamic therapy. Proc. SPIE 7380,
Photodynamic Therapy: Back to the Future, 73803H (2009).
(link)
[12] Poovelikunnel T, Gethin G, Humphreys H. Mupirocin resistance:
clinical implications and potential alternatives for the
eradication of MRSA. J Antimicrob Chemother.
2015;70(10):2681-2692. (link)