Vancouver, British Columbia — April 21, 2026 Andira Pharmaceuticals Inc., in collaboration with researchers at the University of British Columbia, today announced the publication of a new peer-reviewed study describing a novel antimicrobial strategy that dramatically enhances the effectiveness of silver against some of the most dangerous healthcare-associated pathogens, including MRSA, E. coli and Pseudomonas bacteria. The study, published by Oxford University Press in the Journal of Applied Microbiology (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jambio/lxag092), demonstrates that combining silver with two cannabinoids—cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabigerol (CBG)—creates a powerful, broad-spectrum bactericidal effect.
An estimated $45 billion is spent annually in the U.S. on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) with surgical and diabetic infections amounting to the highest costs. HAIs remain a major global public health challenge, driven in part by rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Silver has long been used in medical devices and wound care products, but its clinical utility has been limited by bacterial resistance and dose-dependent toxicity. This newly published research shows that pairing silver with CBC and CBG can reduce the amount of silver required by up to 64-fold while converting weak growth inhibition into rapid bacterial killing across both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms.
Using internationally recognized standards, the research team demonstrated consistent, synergistic, and bactericidal activity of the triple combination against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa—three of the most common and problematic causes of hospital-acquired infections. Importantly, the combination showed remarkable effectiveness against bacterial biofilms, which are notoriously difficult to eradicate and contribute to chronic and device-associated infections with high fatality rates. Biofilms are present in over 60% of diabetic ulcers and play a key role in their non-healing.
Beyond improved antimicrobial potency, the findings have important implications for patient safety. In testing with human skin cells, the silver-CBC-CBG combination showed reduced cytotoxicity compared with silver-only, suggesting a safer profile for clinical and wound-care applications. In addition, no resistance development was observed during a 20-day serial passage study, highlighting the potential durability of this approach in real-world healthcare settings.
‘This work identifies a practical way to revitalize an existing antimicrobial that is already widely used in healthcare,’ said Dr. Dana Lambert, corresponding author and founder of Andira Pharmaceuticals. ‘By enhancing silver’s antibacterial power while lowering the required dose, this strategy addresses both antimicrobial resistance and toxicity—two of the biggest barriers to effective infection control today.’
The study’s findings are particularly relevant for hospitals, long-term care facilities, and wound-care settings, where HAIs and biofilm-associated infections lead to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. By offering a new method to improve the performance of established antimicrobials without relying on systemically administered antibiotics, the silver-CBC-CBG combination represents a promising tool for infection prevention and control.
Andira Pharmaceuticals Inc. is currently completing clinical supply manufacturing in preparation for two parallel Phase 1/2a clinical trials of the silver-CBC-CBG combination as a topical formulation (SilvanexTM Topical) for the treatment of surgical wounds and chronic diabetic ulcers. Both trials are expected to commence in Q4 2026, followed by Fast Track and QIDP (Qualified Infectious Disease Product) application filings with the US FDA. The company is also engaged in a multi-national partnership to develop SilvanexTM Surgical, an absorbent anti-infective wound dressing for use in surgical and other acute wound types.
As antimicrobial resistance and biofilm-associated infections continue to escalate worldwide, innovative solutions such as this may help amplify the effectiveness of existing antimicrobial technologies while improving patient outcomes.
About Andira Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Andira Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a Vancouver-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of first-in-class cannabinoid therapeutics and medical devices to address unmet needs in infection control, post-surgical recovery, and early-stage breast cancer. Through collaborations with top-ranking academic and clinical partners, Andira aims to translate innovative science into practical healthcare solutions.
Media Contact:
Nishi Whiteley,
Manager of Communications & Special Projects
Andira Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Email: nwhiteley@andira.ca