Ondine Biomedical (LON:OBI) announced the initiation of patient recruitment for an intensive care unit (ICU) pilot study at Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH) in New Westminster, British Columbia.
The company states that incorporating Ondine’s Steriwave nasal photodisinfection technology into ICU care could significantly expand its market.
The investigator-initiated study (IIS), first announced 25 September 2024, was designed by Dr. Stephen Reynolds in collaboration with the RCH Foundation’s Advancing Innovation in Medicine (AIM) division. Depending on the results, the pilot could pave the way for a larger multicenter trial involving up to 2,000 ICU patients.
According to Ondine, Infection prevention is a top priority in ICUs, where higher infection rates, critically ill patients, and bed capacity shortages pose significant challenges. Unlike traditional antibiotics, Steriwave does not contribute to antimicrobial resistance. Already in use across Canada and in several UK NHS trusts before major surgery, this technology helps reduce surgical site infections (SSIs) by decolonizing the nose—a major reservoir of infection-causing pathogens.
The first patients were enrolled at RCH on March 18, 2025, for the four-month pilot, which will involve approximately 400 ICU patients. This study aims to assess the feasibility of a larger trial evaluating Steriwave’s safety and efficacy in reducing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) among
critically ill ICU patients. HAIs, often caused by multidrug-resistant organisms, pose an increasing challenge to healthcare systems worldwide.
In a statement, Carolyn Cross, CEO of Ondine, commented, “This trial represents a significant step forward in our mission to bring innovative infection prevention technologies to the most vulnerable patients. Partnering with Royal Columbian Hospital allows us to advance Steriwave’s potential as a game-changing technology in ICU infection prevention practices.”
As a level 1 trauma centre and one of the busiest in Canada, RCH is the first to exvaluate Ondine’s Steriwave nasal decolonization technology in ICUs. Led by ICU physician Dr. Reynolds and his research team, the study will assess how Steriwave integrates into ICU infection control protocols and its potential impact on infection rates, length of stay, and patient mortality.
Ondine’s Steriwave is a non-invasive, painless treatment that uses a proprietary light-activated antimicrobial agent to destroy harmful pathogens—including bacteria, viruses, and fungi—in the nasal passages. The treatment is immediately effective, takes less than five minutes, and allows the normal nasal microbiome to recover swiftly. This groundbreaking approach offers a potentially life-saving solution for ICU patients, addressing a critical gap in infection prevention.
