Clean technology company BioLargo Inc. (BLGO:OTCQB) announced that subsidiary Clyra Medical Technologies Inc. has selected Keystone Industries to support manufacturing of its medical products, including its surgical wound irrigation solution, Bioclynse.
Keystone is a global manufacturer of medical, dental, and cosmetic products in more than 70 countries, BioLargo said.
"We are continuing to work hard and spend money to support the scaled rollout of the Bioclynse surgical wound irrigation solution," said Clyra President Steve Harrison. "Finding a manufacturing partner willing to invest significant money in new equipment and dedicated space was critical to these efforts. We look forward to a long and mutually prosperous relationship with Keystone."
BioLargo said Bioclynse is Clyra's "FDA 510(k) cleared, safe, highly effective, broad-spectrum wound irrigation solution with enormous potential to improve patient outcomes in applications like orthopedic surgery and dentistry."
Some advantages include that it is non-cytotoxic, non-sensitizing, and does not damage tissue. It is non-staining with no rinse-out required, effective against biofilms, and has sustained efficacy for multiple days.
"Keystone has a century of experience in developing and manufacturing medical devices, OTC (over-the-counter), and pharmaceutical products," said Keystone President and Chief Executive Officer Cary Robinson. "We have committed a significant investment in our infrastructure to support the manufacturing of innovative products like Clyra's Bioclynse and can readily provide the needed support to scale up production rapidly."
The Catalyst: Infections Spike in Wake of COVID
During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare-associated infection (HAI) rates spiked to a five-year high in hospitals and have remained high, according to one nonprofit group.
The three HAIs that are increasing are Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), according to The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit group pushing for patient safety.
According to the group's study, over the last five years, the average CLABSI infection ratio increased by 60%, the average MRSA infection ratio increased by 37%, and the average CAUTI infection ratio increased by 19%.
This week, Technical Analyst Clive Maund told Streetwise Reports that the "timing couldn't be better" for the stock in June after it nearly doubled in price in February. It is a "great Buy spot here after a long correction from February high," he said.
"The dramatic spike in HAIs reported in this Safety Grade cycle should stop hospitals in their tracks — infections like these can be life or death for some patients," said Leah Binder, president and chief executive officer of The Leapfrog Group. "We recognize the tremendous strain the pandemic put on hospitals and their workforce, but alarming findings like these indicate hospitals must recommit to patient safety and build more resilience."
The study said 32 out of 50 states saw a significant increase of CLABSI, with the biggest increase in West Virginia.
"Not only are HAIs among the leading causes of death in the U.S., (but) they also increase length of hospitalization stays and add to costs," Binder said. "Our pre-pandemic data showed improved HAI measures, but the spring 2023 Safety Grade data spotlights how hospital responses to the pandemic led to a decline in patient safety and HAI management."
According to Global Market Insights, the wound care market was valued at US$21.2 billion in 2022 and is estimated to increase by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9% from 2023 to 2032.
"The COVID-19 storm had cast a shadow over the wound care market, disrupting health care services, constraining health care budgets, and diverting resources to the COVID-19 research front," the firm noted.
A Powerful, Safe Wound Care Product
BioLargo President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Calvert has told Streetwise Reports, "There's a gap in that market, and we're going to fill it."
Clyra's products fight the problem using complex copper and iodine technology.
"Clyra technology causes the instantaneous release of a powerful yet safe antimicrobial agent in measured doses when it is mixed by water from any source, including a wound exudate," Clyra notes on its website.
It can be delivered in multiple formats: a liquid, a dry solution, a hydrogel, or embedded in a pad, the company said.
"Clyra's products can be used by wound care centers, hospitals, nursing homes, urgent care clinics, and home healthcare, in military applications, and by consumers," the company said.
BioLargo is made up of several subsidiaries that work in different sectors, a "family of products," including ONM Environmental, BioLargo Engineering, BioLargo Water, BioLargo Energy Technologies, Clyra Medical Technologies, and the new BioLargo Equipment Solutions & Technologies Inc. (BEST) subsidiary.
This week, Technical Analyst Clive Maund told Streetwise Reports that the "timing couldn't be better" for the stock in June after it nearly doubled in price in February.
It is a "great Buy spot here after a long correction from February high," he said.
Ownership and Share Structure
About 14.6% of BioLargo is owned by insiders and management, according to Yahoo Finance. They include Chief Science Officer Kenneth Code with 8.44%, CEO Calvert with 3.32%, and Director Jack Strommen with 1.64%, Reuters reported.
About 0.04% is held by the institution First American Trust, Reuters said.
The rest, about 85%, is retail.
Its market cap is US$90.55 million, with about 295.97 million shares outstanding and about 253.84 million free-floating. It trades in a 52-week range of US$0.45 and US$0.15.
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- As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of BioLargo Inc.
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