Ondine Biopharma Receives CE Mark Approval for MRSA Decolonization

October 1, 2006

VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 2 /CNW/ - Ondine Biopharma Corporation (TSX: OBP; AIM: OBP) today announced that it has received CE Mark approval for expanded use of its Photodynamic Disinfection system. The new indication is for decolonization of pathogenic bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphyloccocus aureus (MRSA) in the nose. This novel approach has the potential to decrease the rate of nosocomial infection, while avoiding development of antibiotic resistance.

"With MRSA evolving to become one of the most prevalent hospital-associated superbugs, the need for a non-antibiotic approach is evident," said Carolyn Cross, President and CEO of Ondine. "This regulatory milestone paves the way to deployment of our light-activated disinfection technology into hospital settings. Access to this hospital market allows Ondine to leverage its multidisciplinary capabilities beyond oral healthcare, reinforcing Ondine's leadership in the field of photo-disinfection."

About MRSA

The MRSA bacterium is commonly found on the skin and in the noses of healthy people and is frequently transmitted between healthcare workers, visitors and hospital patients. As a result, more than 2 million MRSA infections occur in the U.S. each year; one in every ten patients will be impacted. Those who have recently undergone surgery or have compromised immune systems are particularly susceptible. 95% of all patients with an MRSA infection will not respond to first-line treatments and if the bacterium enters the bloodstream, nearly half of these critically ill patients will die despite access to potent antibiotics. The burden on the healthcare system related to treating antibiotic resistant infections like MRSA exceeds $8 billion in both the U.S. and the U.K.

About Photodynamic Disinfection

he Photodynamic Disinfection system developed by Ondine utilizes low-intensity lasers and wavelength-specific, light-activated compounds to specifically target and destroy microbial pathogens and reduce the symptoms of disease. The compounds are generally topically applied and one or more lasers are used to activate the compounds and complete the disinfection. The Photodynamic Disinfection technologies were developed by Professor Michael Wilson and colleagues at the Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, and licensed to Ondine by UCL Biomedica PLC, University College London.

About Ondine Biopharma Corporation

Ondine is developing non-antibiotic therapies for the treatment of a broad spectrum of bacterial, fungal and viral infections. The Company is focused on creating and commercializing leading-edge products utilizing its patented light-activated technology. Photodynamic Disinfection (PDD) provides broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy without encouraging the formation and spread of antibiotic resistance. Ondine has developed Periowave(TM) for the treatment of chronic periodontitis in adults, and is extending its platform technology into other applications both within and outside the oral cavity. The Company is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with a research laboratory in Redmond, Washington, USA and an international office in St. Michael, Barbados. For additional information, please visit the Company's website at: www.ondinebiopharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements contained in this release containing words like "believe", "intend", "may", "expect" and other similar expressions, are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the company's forward-looking statements include the following: market acceptance of our technologies and products; our ability to obtain financing; our financial and technical resources relative to those of our competitors; our ability to keep up with rapid technological change; government regulation of our technologies; our ability to enforce our intellectual property rights and protect our proprietary technologies; the ability to obtain and develop partnership opportunities; the timing of commercial product launches; the ability to achieve key technical milestones in key products and other risk factors identified from time to time in the company's filings. 


For further information: Carolyn Cross, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ondine Biopharma Corporation, (604) 669-0555, ccross@ondinebiopharma.com; Christina Bessant, Investor Relations, The Equicom Group Inc., (416) 815-0700 ext. 269, cbessant@equicomgroup.com