Covalon Licenses Intellectual Property to Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia from the University of Michigan

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Feb. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Covalon Technologies Ltd. (the "Company" or "Covalon") (TSXV: COV), an advanced medical technologies company, has announced a licensing agreement with the University of Michigan's Center for Integrative Research in Critical Care ("MCIRCC"), whereby Covalon has licensed intellectual property from MCIRCC that, when commercialized, could prevent or reduce the occurrence of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia ("VAP"), a potentially devastating hospital acquired infection, and the most common nosocomial infection in critically ill patients.¹

Covalon has commenced the development of a product prototype, based on work performed by Dr. Kevin Ward at MCIRCC and colleagues at Virginia Commonwealth University. This work formed the basis for the patents and intellectual property licensed by Covalon. The commercialized product is expected to be inserted into a ventilated patient's mouth, regardless of the brand of endotracheal tube or ventilator used, to provide antimicrobial protection against the pathogens commonly associated with VAP. 

Hospital acquired pneumonia can occur in both mechanically ventilated and non-ventilated patients, and can greatly extend their hospital stay, resulting in mortality rates of up to 50% of critically ill patients who acquire VAP while in intensive care.² VAP occurs in as much as 65% of mechanically ventilated ICU patients and has an average cost of $40,000 per episode to U.S. hospitals to treat.³

"VAP affects the most vulnerable of patients and many symptoms typically associated with pneumonia are masked or absent because patients are often sedated and unable to communicate," stated Dr. Ward.  "Patients requiring mechanical ventilation quickly become colonized with dangerous bacteria found in hospitals.  In addition, many of these patients are immunocompromised.  It's these conditions that make VAP difficult, controversial and expensive with regard to clinical diagnosis, treatment plans and prevention strategies."

Despite an increased understanding of the disease-causing bacteria and diagnosis of VAP, prevention remains problematic because current solutions require resource intensive activities with an already complex patient load and/or expensive equipment that is not standardized or readily available in all patient care environments or care facilities.  Covalon's commercialization efforts related to this technology are focused on developing an antimicrobial device that is universally applicable to patients who are ventilated or at risk of developing VAP.

"We know that VAP prevention strategies include reduction of bacterial colonization and aspiration avoidance." stated Covalon CEO Brian Pedlar. "By combining Covalon's extensive experience in developing leading antimicrobial medical devices and MCIRCC's intellectual property, we are confident that our development work will lead to reduced costs incurred by hospitals, more effective use of the clinician's time, and most importantly better patient outcomes."

"Timing is difficult to assess with early stage projects, but Covalon has a proven track record of developing products and bringing them to market." said Pedlar.

Covalon's other infection fighting technologies include the IV Clear™ and SurgiClear™ lines of dual antimicrobial silicone adhesive products, and it recently announced FDA clearance of their new SilverCoat Foley designed to help combat urinary tract infections, the most frequently diagnosed hospital acquired infection.

About Covalon

Covalon Technologies Ltd. researches, develops and commercializes new healthcare technologies that help save lives around the world. Covalon's patented technologies, products and services address the advanced healthcare needs of medical device companies, healthcare providers and individual consumers. Covalon's technologies are used to prevent, detect and manage medical conditions in specialty areas such as wound care, tissue repair, infection control, disease management, medical device coatings and biocompatibility. To learn more about Covalon, visit our website at www.covalon.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements which reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan, "estimate", "expect", "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, including the difficulty in predicting product approvals, acceptance of and demands for new products, the impact of the products and pricing strategies of competitors, delays in developing and launching new products, the regulatory environment, fluctuations in operating results and other risks, any of which could cause results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Many risks are inherent in the industry; others are more specific to the Company. Investors should consult the Company's ongoing quarterly filings for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements. Investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, further events or otherwise.

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1} Sepsis in European intensive care units: Results of the SOAP study. Vincent J-L et al. Critical Care Medicine 2006, 34:344-353
² Steven M. Koenig and Jonathon D. Truwit, Clin Microbiol Rev. 2006 Oct; 19(4): 637–657. Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention.
³ Tablan OC, Anderson LJ, Besser R, et al. CDC Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Guidelines for preventing health care-associated pneumonia, 2003: Recommendations of CDC and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2004 Mar 26;53(RR-3):1-36.

SOURCE Covalon Technologies Ltd.

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