NanoTess Deploys Wound-Care Gel to Ukrainian Front Lines
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
The Calgary biotech startup is using drone delivery to provide its NanoSALV Catalytic treatment to soldiers and civilians in active conflict zones.
Calgary-based biotech startup NanoTess has announced that its NanoSALV Catalytic topical gel is being utilized to treat civilians and soldiers in Ukraine, according to reporting from BetaKit. The company claims the treatment, which employs catalytic particles to speed up the healing process, has reached over 6,000 individuals.
Speaking in a press release, military surgeon Dr. Vasyl Voronets noted that complex blast wounds from drone strikes are prone to debris contamination and rapid infection, making urgent care critical in conflict zones. To facilitate delivery to remote and hazardous areas, NanoTess is collaborating with the Public Health Centre of Ukraine, the Ukrainian military’s Medical Forces Sustainment Group East, and the Calgary-based charity Medical Mercy Canada. NanoTess stated that much of the product is being delivered via drones.
Beyond the Ukrainian deployment, NanoSALV was authorized by Health Canada in 2022 and is currently available in 14,000 pharmacies and more than 2,500 health facilities. The company's commercialization efforts were supported in 2023 by the CAN Health Network, a federally funded organization.
This deployment aligns with broader defense cooperation between Canada and Ukraine, following a 100-year declaration on defense innovation signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Mark Carney. As part of a push for dual-use technology, NanoTess has participated in the Department of National Defence’s (DND) Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security program and has received DND support to expand its manufacturing capabilities.