Ondine expands use of Steriwave in Spain

22nd Jan 2026 14:53

(Sharecast News) - Ondine Biomedical said on Thursday that it had expanded the use of its Steriwave nasal photodisinfection technology into ear, nose and throat surgery in Spain, following deployment across a leading ENT specialist group operating surgical centres in Madrid and Málaga.

The AIM-traded group said the rollout marked an expansion of Steriwave into sinonasal and related ENT procedures, which represented a significant addressable market.

It highlighted that around 600,000 sinonasal procedures are performed annually in the United States, with chronic rhinosinusitis accounting for more than half of these cases.

The company said infection risk was elevated in such patients due to disrupted nasal microbiomes and the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Ondine described Steriwave as a five-minute, non-invasive treatment that uses a light-activated photosensitive agent to destroy bacteria, viruses and fungi, including antibiotic-resistant strains, without generating antimicrobial resistance.

Unlike topical antibiotics, which require repeated dosing and face increasing resistance, the company said Steriwave acts immediately while allowing beneficial microbes to repopulate rapidly.

The group pointed to previously-reported clinical experience in ENT surgery, including results cited by professor Claire Hopkins of King's College London and Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, where use of Steriwave prior to sinonasal surgery was associated with a 77% reduction in post-operative antibiotic prescriptions, with rates falling from 22.5% to 5%.

Ondine also referenced recent microbiome research highlighting the role of Staphylococcus aureus dominance in chronic rhinosinusitis and post-surgical infection risk, noting that Steriwave's non-antibiotic approach could help address the challenges while supporting antibiotic stewardship.

"For patients with chronic sinusitis, whose microbiomes are already fragile, Steriwave rapidly destroys dangerous pathogens while allowing for the rapid recovery of the natural flora that supports long-term well-being," said chief executive Carolyn Cross.

"It is rewarding to see leading Spanish ENT specialists embracing this non-antibiotic approach to deliver healthier nasal decolonisation and help to protect patients from surgical site infections."

Ondine said the expansion into Spanish ENT centres reflected growing clinician confidence in Steriwave's effectiveness and safety, and aligned with its strategy to broaden adoption across surgical disciplines and geographies, supported by real-world data showing reductions in infection rates, antibiotic use and hospital resource utilisation.

At 1029 GMT, shares in Ondine Biomedical were up 6.25% at 8.5p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.