Andira Pharmaceuticals, a global leader in cannabinoid-based therapeutics, today announced breakthrough results from an independent antimicrobial resistance (AMR) study conducted by Element Materials Technology.
The study found that Silvanex™ — Andira’s flagship infection control platform — demonstrated no detectable resistance potential against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a rare achievement in AMR research.
Silvanex™ completed 20 out of 20 serial passages with no change in antimicrobial potency against MRSA, as measured by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing.
For context, the approved antibiotic agent fusidic acid, which served as the study’s control, was rendered completely ineffective due to AMR after only seven passages.
Dr. Dana Lambert, CEO & Founder at Andira Pharmaceuticals says “MRSA remains one of the greatest challenges in AMR. To show no resistance over 20 passages is a watershed moment in infection control. Silvanex™ isn’t just a new tool — it could reset how hospitals protect their patients,. This study shows that Silvanex™ could represent a durable, routine-use solution that finally breaks the cycle of resistance. That’s not incremental innovation — it’s a revolution for infection control.”
Why Action Against AMR Matters
AMR is an escalating public health crisis, responsible for an estimated 4.7 million deaths globally each year according to The Lancet, with treatment-resistant infections such as MRSA imposing an annual cost burden of over $20 billion in the U.S. alone.
Standard silver-based products such as hospital wound dressings, catheters and topical products — relied upon by healthcare institutions globally for infection control — have not kept pace. Infectious microbes that are found in healthcare facilities are now commonly resistant to antimicrobial silver, frequently rendering hospital infection control products ineffective. With projected mortality rates due to AMR increasing and hospitals struggling to prevent and manage healthcare-associated infections, silver-based infection control technology is long overdue for an upgrade, having had very little innovation since the first silver wound dressing entered the market in 1980.
Silvanex™ As the Next-Generation Solution
Developed in collaboration with the University of British Columbia (UBC), Andira’s Silvanex™ is a breakthrough silver-based platform technology that solves for the shortcomings of conventional infection control products. Silvanex™ is a synergistic triple combination of silver, cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabigerol (CBG). Not only does Silvanex™ have eight times greater antimicrobial power than standard silver, but it also rapidly eradicates deadly multi-drug-resistant AMR pathogens that standard silver cannot — all at a reduced silver dosage.
Impact of the New AMR Study Results
In the current resistance study, MRSA failed to develop any measurable resistance to Silvanex™ — highlighting Silvanex™ as not just a powerful antimicrobial, but potentially one of the first truly AMR-resilient platforms. These findings support Silvanex™ infection control technology being suitable for routine care in healthcare institutions as a core component of standard infection control, as opposed to being reserved for treatment only once an infection has occurred — an economic pitfall faced by most anti-infective agents on the market.
Potential to Save Lives and Lower Healthcare Costs
Being significantly more effective and resilient against deadly superbugs compared to standard silver, Silvanex™ has the potential to reduce the number of healthcare-associated infections (HAI), which cost an estimated $45 billion in the U.S. alone each year. Each case of MRSA and other HAIs caused by deadly AMR superbugs cost an estimated $20,000 to $45,000 per patient to manage. With the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) having ceased insurance reimbursement for some of the costliest HAIs, the economic burden of life-threatening infections has shifted largely onto healthcare institutions. Hospitals currently struggle to prevent and manage HAI, having less than effective infection control tools available — coupled with the growing threat of AMR.
Upon receiving market approval, infection control products incorporating Silvanex™ as a dramatically improved and AMR-resilient platform are expected to be widely adopted — having potential to save lives, prevent HAI, stop AMR and mitigate the soaring associated costs.
Next Step Toward Market Adoption
Following the success of the resistance study, Andira Pharmaceuticals is accelerating regulatory and commercial preparations to bring Silvanex™ to healthcare markets globally. The company is finalizing preclinical and manufacturing data packages in preparation for its first FDA submission — targeted for Q4 2026 — for a Silvanex™-based hospital wound dressing regulated as a medical device. Additional clinical studies are planned for surgical site infection (SSI) prevention, an estimated $5.4 billion market, with pilot hospital trials expected in 2025 to 2026. In parallel, Andira is expanding strategic partnerships and global licensing discussions to ensure wide adoption of this AMR-resilient platform across multiple infection control categories.
How the Resistance Study Was Conducted
Serial passaging is a gold-standard method for testing an antimicrobial agent’s resistance potential. Bacteria are exposed to increasing concentrations of the agent over successive generations, which is intended to mimic clinical conditions in patients. If resistance develops, it appears through consistent bacterial growth at higher drug concentrations. Serial passaging studies to measure AMR development are typically run for 10 to 20 passages, with many anti-infective agents rendered ineffective due to AMR within 10 passages.
Data from the current resistance study is pending scientific publication.
For further information, visit www.andira.ca or contact info@andira.ca.
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