Nucryst OK'd on antibacterial cream

WAKEFIELD, Mass., July 19 (UPI) -- U.S. firm Nucryst Pharmaceuticals said Thursday it has been cleared to market its antimicrobial barrier topical cream.

The cream is made with NPI 32101, the company's patented nanocrystalline silver, that Nucryst said was shown in studies to repel bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, including strains resistant to methicillin, a type known as MRSA.

"Gaining FDA clearance is a first step toward marketing our proprietary technology in this new formulation," said Scott Gillis, Nucryst's president and CEO. "We are actively exploring commercialization options and as part of this process, market plans and timing for this product will be determined."