Ondine Biomedical Inc (AIM:OBI) said it is working with a team at the University of Navarra in Spain on a clinical trial using the company’s Steriwave technology to stop the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in high-risk viral carriers.
Steriwave uses a process called photodisinfection to kill germs, including Covid.
Ondine deploys a two-step method, applying a light-activated agent to each nostril followed by a few minutes of illumination with a specific wavelength and power level of light.
Lab-based evaluations showed Steriwave to be effective against coronavirus disease.
Indeed, this work, carried out by scientists at Navarra, resulted in an Innovation of Excellence Award at the 2021 Infection Consortium of Prevention and Infection Control in Geneva.
The next step is to compile a clinical data pack on efficacy in people with Covid.
The trial will be a randomised, placebo-controlled study, which means one group will receive an active product another an inert substance with no medical value.
In all, up to 100 PCR-positive but asymptomatic Covid sufferers will take part in the trial.
"The continuing emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants such as Omicron, demonstrates that this research is more important than ever,” said Carolyn Cross, Ondine’s chief executive.
“Ondine Biomedical's laboratory work, as well as that of researchers at the University of Navarra, have demonstrated that our photodisinfection technology is extremely effective against SARS-CoV-2.”
She pointed out that the firm’s Steriwave nasal photodisinfection technology has been successfully used in Canadian hospitals for more than ten years, significantly reducing surgical site infections.
Eliminating a broad spectrum of pathogens from the nose prior to surgery has proven to be a major factor in reducing hospital-acquired infections.
“Given our preliminary research, we believe that Steriwave's broad spectrum decolonisation efficacy will reduce the number of COVID-19 transmissions and COVID-19 related hospitalisations, as well as accelerate rates of recovery in affected patients,” Cross said.