Ondine cuts COVID-19 rate in food processing plant

RNS Number : 5204F

Ondine Biomedical Inc.

07 November 2022

 

7 November 2022

Ondine Biomedical Inc.

("Ondine Biomedical", "Ondine" or the "Company")

Food processing plant sees huge reduction in employee COVID-19 rates after using nasal photodisinfection

New research suggests that nasal photodisinfection could significantly reduce employee COVID-19 positive rates at food processing facilities

Research presented last week at the PDT-PDD Conference in Nancy, France showed that a large food processing plant in Manitoba, Canada, was able to reduce the rate of COVID-19 amongst its employees following the use of Ondine Biomedical's nasal photodisinfection. The rate of COVID-19 positive tests in the workforce fell from 6.4% to 0.5%, a reduction of over 10 times (p<0.0001) compared to rates in the community. The reduction in COVID-19 cases at the plant meant that food production was able to continue without disruption at a crucial time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Between July 2020 and August 2021, approximately 1,500 employees were nasally photodisinfected on a voluntary basis during paid work hours. Compliance with the treatment was extremely high at 85% by the end of the study period. During the study, employees used Steriwave™ nasal photodisinfection to eliminate bacteria, fungi and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, from their noses.  The nose has been shown to be the primary infection site for many infectious diseases, and eliminating pathogens from the nose has been demonstrated to reduce disease progression.[i]

Steriwave works to eliminate nasal bacteria, viruses and fungi with a simple, 5-minute treatment. The two-step process involves the application of a light-activated agent to each nostril using a nasal swab, followed by illumination of the area with a specific wavelength of laser light. The light activates the photodynamic agent, causing an oxidative burst that destroys all types of pathogens. Analysis of 21,459 questionnaires administered to the workforce showed that the treatment caused minimal adverse events (mild runny nose in <0.4% of all patients treated). 

Food processing facilities are known to be at high risk for the transmission of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. According to a CDC report, meat and poultry processing workers experienced an increase of up to 75% in the level of COVID-19 cases and up to 50% in the death rate over the baseline community rates.[ii] Protecting these essential workers during disease outbreaks is crucial for maintaining consistent food supply.

Dr. Nicolas Loebel, President and Chief Technology officer of Ondine Biomedical Inc., said: "These results were provided to us by the local infection control team in Manitoba. Facilities like this plant are highly vulnerable to disease outbreaks, significantly disrupting food production and impacting sales. When nasal photodisinfection was added to the standard infection control bundle, COVID-19 rates were suppressed by over 10 times compared to the surrounding community rates. Sales were able to continue to international commercial partners, and equally importantly, acute and long-term illnesses were prevented in the workforce, positively impacting costs going forward."

Ondine Biomedical Inc.
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About Nasal Photodisinfection

Ondine's nasal photodisinfection comprises a two-step process: the application of a proprietary light-activated solution to each nostril using a nasal swab, followed by illumination of the area with a specific wavelength of laser light for less than five minutes. The photodisinfection process works by light exciting the photodynamic solution, causing an oxidative burst that is lethal to pathogens (Watch video here:  www.ondinebio.com/technology ) . A key benefit of this approach, unlike with antibiotics, is that pathogens do not develop resistance to the therapy.

Ondine's nasal photodisinfection has a CE mark for use in the EU and is approved in Canada and several other countries, including the UK, under the name Steriwave ™ . In the US, it has received Qualified Infectious Disease Product designation and Fast Track status from the FDA and is currently undergoing clinical trials for US regulatory approval.

About Ondine Biomedical Inc.

Ondine Biomedical Inc. is a Canadian headquartered company innovating in the field of photodisinfection therapies. Ondine has a pipeline of investigational products, based on its proprietary photodisinfection platform, in various stages of development. Products beyond nasal photodisinfection include therapies for a variety of medical indications such as chronic sinusitis, ventilator-associated pneumonia, burns, and other indications.

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[i] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-18513-0.pdf

[ii] Waltenburg, M.A., et al. (2020) Update: Covid-19 Among Workers in Meat and Poultry Processing Facilities - United States, April-May, CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 69: 887-892.

 

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