MISSISSAUGA, ON,
May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Covalon
Technologies Ltd. (the "Company" or "Covalon") (TSXV: COV), an
advanced medical technologies company, today announced United
States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") approval of IV
ClearTM, a breakthrough antimicrobial silicone adhesive
film dressing designed for securing vascular intravenous access
devices.
Covalon's IV Clear antimicrobial film dressings
have a number of unique and highly desirable characteristics:
- IV Clear is the only vascular access securement dressing
approved by the FDA that combines the comfort of skin-friendly
silicone adhesive technology with the advanced antimicrobial
protection of two gold-standard antimicrobial agents -
chlorhexidine and silver.
- IV Clear has uniquely bonded the two antimicrobials into the
actual adhesive of the soft and non-sensitizing silicone that
allows the clear film dressing to comfortably secure vascular
access devices to the skin while providing antimicrobial protection
for up to 7 days.
- IV Clear is breathable unlike most other silicone
dressings.
- Patients are able to bathe while wearing the waterproof
silicone IV Clear dressing.
- All the current leading suppliers of vascular access securement
dressings use acrylic adhesives instead of the much superior and
more skin-comfortable silicone.
- Studies have shown that IV Clear is up to ten times less
painful on removal than leading film dressings that use acrylic
adhesives.
"IV Clear is truly a new innovation in the fight
against Catheter Related Blood Stream Infections (CRBSI), for which
the Center for Disease Control (CDC) calls one of the most deadly
and costly threats to patient safety," said Brian Pedlar, Covalon's Chief Executive Officer.
"Having an antimicrobial silicone adhesive is a clear advantage
over the older generation of patches, pads or acrylic adhesive
technologies currently available in the market. With over 350
million IV catheter stabilization devices used in the United States alone and the adoption of
antimicrobial securement devices experiencing double-digit growth,
we fully expect IV Clear to be a strong competitor in the
market."
IV Clear is intended to cover and protect insertion
sites and to secure the various intravenous devices to a patient's
skin. FDA approval included the following indications for use: IV
catheters, central venous lines, peripherally inserted central
catheters (PICCs), suction catheters, epidural catheters,
hemodialysis catheters, orthopedic pins, other intravascular
catheters and percutaneous devices.
Mr. Pedlar continued, "This is a major achievement
for Covalon's talented team of scientists. Our lab continues to
innovate and work on many other applications that will be announced
in due course. It is an exciting time at Covalon."
IV Clear is available immediately for sale and/or
license in the United States and
Canada by contacting Covalon at
ivclear@covalon.com or calling 1.877.711.6055.
About Covalon
Covalon Technologies Ltd. researches, develops and
commercializes new healthcare technologies that help save lives
around the world. Covalon's patented technologies, products and
services address the advanced healthcare needs of medical device
companies, healthcare providers and individual consumers. Covalon's
technologies are used to prevent, detect and manage medical
conditions in specialty areas such as wound care, tissue repair,
infection control, disease management, medical device coatings and
biocompatibility. To learn more about Covalon, visit our website at
www.covalon.com
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SOURCE Covalon Technologies Ltd.