SoftOx Solutions AS announced the publication of data from a randomized control trial (RTC) evaluating the wound-healing effect of SoftOx's stabilized hypochlorous acid solution (HOCl) on acute wounds. The results were published in Acta Dermato-Venereologica, a peer-reviewed journal focused on clinical and experimental research in dermatology and venerology. The randomized trial applied a suction blister wound model and randomized 20 healthy volunteers whereby stabilized hypochlorous acid or control (saline) solutions were assigned.

The study's primary objective was to evaluate the wound healing properties of HOCI, and the secondary objective was microbiological control, pain levels and safety with stabilized HOCl compared to the control treatment. Wounds were treated and rinsed on days 0, 2 and 4. Wound healing was assessed blindly, and bacterial growth was evaluated as the number of colony-forming units cultured from surface swabs. Stabilized HOCI was found to accelerate early re-epithelialization (wound healing) significantly on day 4 compared with the control group (p=0.00051) and was not inferior to the control solution on day 10 (p<0.0001).

In addition, the median bacterial counts in the wounds were significantly lower after treatment with stabilized HOCI compared with the control group directly after treatment, which also lasted over time. Overall, the study demonstrates the immediate and durable antimicrobial action and beneficial effect of stabilized HOCI on acute wounds and suggests that hypochlorous acid is a promising antimicrobial wound rinsing agent.