Steriwave ICU Study Outcomes Presented at CSRT2026

Ondine Biomedical Inc. ("Ondine"), a leader in light-activated antimicrobial therapies to prevent and treat hospital infections, announces that results from the SMURF feasibility pilot study ("Suppression of Microbial Burden to Reduce Pneumonia in Critical Illness") were presented at the 2026 Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists ("CSRT") Annual Conference held from 21-23 May in Whistler, Canada.

The single-centre study, conducted at Royal Columbian Hospital ("RCH"), evaluated the feasibility of implementing a nasal photodisinfection protocol in critically ill patients to reduce microbial burden. The study represents an early-stage investigation of a non-antibiotic approach in the ICU setting. While the SMURF study was not designed or powered to demonstrate reductions in pneumonia or other clinical outcomes, exploratory findings included observed reductions in hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia rates, supporting further investigation in larger studies.

The presentation was delivered by the study's principal investigator, Dr. Elizabeth Rohrs, and highlighted operational feasibility, protocol adherence, and considerations for future clinical research in critically ill populations.

The findings were previously published in the April 2026 issue of Critical Care. The publication is available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13054-026-06008-7

The CSRT Annual Conference is a national meeting for respiratory therapists and critical care professionals, providing a platform for the presentation of clinical research and discussion of advances in respiratory care.

• Elizabeth Rohrs, PhD, RRT, RCH principal investigator and RCH Foundation Research Director:

"We were pleased to present the SMURF study findings on behalf of our Royal Columbian Hospital AIM research team at the CSRT Annual Conference. These results highlight the feasibility of implementing a nasal photodisinfection protocol in a critical care setting and provide intriguing early indications that this approach may help reduce ICU-acquired infections, including hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia. While the study was exploratory in nature, the findings support further investigation in larger clinical studies."

Carolyn Cross, CEO, Ondine Biomedical:

"We are grateful to the AIM research team and clinical staff for their expertise, dedication and collaboration throughout this study. We also thank Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation for its support in enabling innovation and research infrastructure that facilitates early-stage clinical investigation."

About the CSRT

The Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists is the national professional association for respiratory therapists, supporting excellence in respiratory therapy through education, research, and professional development.

Royal Columbian Hospital is a major tertiary care centre in British Columbia, Canada providing a wide range of specialised services, including trauma, cardiac care, neurosciences, high-risk obstetrics and neonatal intensive care.

Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation supports equipment, research, and innovation initiatives at the hospital. The AIM Institute, part of the Foundation, partners with healthcare and technology organisations to support clinical research and innovation.

Steriwave nasal photodisinfection is a non-invasive treatment that uses a proprietary light-activated photosensitive agent applied to the nasal passages. Upon illumination with red light, the agent produces a localized oxidative reaction that inactivates microoganisms. This approach has demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, including against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Due to its mechanism of action, it is considered to have a low potential for the development of microbial resistance.

About Ondine Biomedical Inc.

Ondine's nasal photodisinfection system holds a CE mark in Europe and is authorized for use for nasal decolonisation in Canada, Australia, Mexico and certain other jurisdictions under the name Steriwave®. In the US, the technology has been granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product designation and Fast Track status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and recently completed enrolment in its Phase 3 clinical trial.