Ondine preclinical data indicate bright hope for photodisinfection technology

VANCOUVER - Ondine Biopharma Corp. (TSX:OBP), already using lasers to activate drugs that treat gum disease, said Monday its technology shows promise against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a dangerous hospital-acquired pathogen.
The announcement came a week after Ondine indicated its technology can clear nasal passages of potentially lethal methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus.
"Our photodisinfection system has demonstrated 100 per cent eradication of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in planktonic (free-floating) cultures, and in excess of 99.9 per cent kills in biofilms," stated Nicolas Loebel, Ondine's chief technology officer.
"The data from the preclinical research supports our belief that our photodisinfection technology could provide significant benefits over conventional antipseudomonal therapies such as topical antibiotics or micronized silver."
He noted that Pseudomonas bacteria are difficult to kill and occur throughout hospitals as an opportunistic disease, frequently killing patients being treated for cancer or other ailments.
Ondine's eradication process "does not upregulate bacterial resistance factors because the process is rapid, the kill rates are high, and killing occurs through disruption of surface membranes rather than internal metabolic processes," Loebel added.
After launching Periowave, its photodisinfection treatment for periodontal disease, Ondine's product development is being focused on nasal staphylococcus aureus decolonization, disinfection of skin wounds and burns and treatment of external ear infections.