Ceragenix Pharmaceuticals announced updates on its previously disclosed, ongoing long-term preclinical testing of a silicone medical device incorporating CeraShield antimicrobial technology. The prototype device being tested was an intravaginal silicone ring. Antimicrobial intravaginal rings may be of potential benefit in preventing transmission of certain sexually transmitted diseases. After 224 days of continuous antimicrobial efficacy, the coated ring lost its efficacy in preventing colonization and the test was ended.
This recent testing was focused on urinary tract infections. The testing methodology involved soaking the device in artificial urine with a fresh inoculum of at least 1,000 colony forming units (CFUs) per ml of E. coli on a daily basis. E. coli is a bacterial pathogen that is the most common cause of urinary tract infections.
The Company is working on incorporating the CeraShield technology into silicone based urinary catheters, among other ongoing projects. The antimicrobial efficacy testing is being conducted by Dr. Paul B. Savage’s laboratory at Brigham Young University (BYU). Dr. Savage is the inventor of the Ceragenin technology, which is exclusively licensed by BYU to the Company.
Steve Porter, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, Achieving 224 days of continuous antimicrobial efficacy in such rigorous testing is an important accomplishment as it represents another positive indication of the potential CeraShield has for devices requiring longer term antimicrobial protection. To the best of our knowledge, currently available coatings fail to offer protection after three days.