New Compound Has Applications in Medical Device Coatings

A new class of compounds could have applications as an antimicrobial coating on a range of implantable medical devices, Ceragenix Pharmaceuticals said recently.

The company cited a 21-day study showing an untreated control catheter had 30,000 bacterial colony forming units (CFUs) on its surface while Ceragenin-treated catheters had fewer than 100 CFUs.

These results demonstrate "the potential for Ceragenins to be utilized as an antimicrobial treatment for indwelling medical devices," Steven Porter, chairman and CEO of Ceragenix, said. He said the duration of efficacy of Ceragenins, also known as cationic steroid antimicrobials (CSAs), is superior to currently available antimicrobial coatings and treatments, which "are generally efficacious for only seven to 10 days."

CSAs are a new class of novel anti-infective compounds that work against bacteria and fungi, the firm said. The company said the antimicrobial agent can be added to pre-formed medical devices to prevent bacterial adhesion. The entire material acts as a reservoir for the antimicrobial agent, which slowly leaches out over time.

Potential uses for CSAs involve devices such as endotrachael tubes, stents, central venous catheters, urinary catheters, hemodialysis catheters, orthopedic implants and vascular grafts.

( http://www.fdanews.com/ddl/34_12/ )