Delivered by drone, the Calgary-based company’s product NanoSALV Catalytic has reached more than 6,000 people in Ukraine.
TORONTO, ON, October 28, 2026 – Today, at the CAN Health Network Annual Conference, Calgary-based NanoTess announced that its Canadian-developed wound care technology has now reached more than 6,000 soldiers and civilians in Ukraine. First proven in Canadian hospitals, the company’s innovative wound and burn treatment is now being delivered by drone to Ukraine’s front lines, where burns and open wounds can quickly become life-threatening and access to medical care is often days away.
Built for the world’s toughest settings
In Ukraine, one of the hardest parts of treating a wound is often getting care to it in time. Supply lines are disrupted, units are spread across remote areas, and burns and open wounds can quickly become infected.
NanoSALV Catalytic has now been proven to work and heal in these conditions. It is lightweight, non-flammable and easy to use, so it can be flown by drone to the front line and applied by people with limited medical training.
Recognizing the urgent need, NanoTess has committed its own resources and donated its technology to support humanitarian and medical efforts in Ukraine. In this first of its kind deployment in an active military zone with partners they have been able to reach soldiers and civilians together through three partners: the Public Health Centre of Ukraine, the Medical Forces and Sustainment Group East, and Medical Mercy Canada.
“It has helped us treat more people, more quickly, in extremely challenging conditions,” said Dr. Vasyl Voronets, a military surgeon on Ukraine’s East Front.
Drone delivery gets medical supplies to military units in remote areas, where resources are usually limited.
Proven at home first
NanoTess’ success began with a Department of National Defense IDEaS challenge, which drove the design of this wound and burn technology to be suitable for the austere environments faced in the battlefield. This work then expanded to Canada’s health system. After starting in a Calgary lab, NanoSALV Catalytic was authorized by Health Canada in 2022. A year later, with support from the CAN Health Network, the company launched a commercialization project with Alberta Health Services, proving the success of the treatment across the province.
From there, adoption grew. Today, NanoSALV Catalytic is available in more than 2,500 hospitals and health facilities and 14,000 pharmacies across Canada, and it has been added to public programs in Alberta and Ontario.
What’s next
The work in Ukraine comes just weeks after Canada and Ukraine signed a Declaration for a 100-Year Partnership in Calgary, committing to closer cooperation on defence innovation and reconstruction. NanoTess is building on that momentum.The company is developing new ways to deliver its treatment directly to a wound or burn, for both military and civilian care, leading the case of dual-use through a Canadian made innovation.
What works in Canada for treating unhoused populations in encampments set the stage for how this technology will work on the front lines. NanoTess has shown that, and it is a reminder of what Canadian innovation can achieve when it is proven at home and shared with the world.
Quotes
“Effective medical treatment in active conflict zones and during recovery is critical to our soldiers. Burns require urgent care and complex blast wounds, typically sustained in drone strikes, are easily contaminated by debris and can quickly become infected.
We are grateful to NanoTess for developing this technology and supporting our efforts in Ukraine. In a conflict where medical access can never be taken for granted, this support matters deeply to our soldiers and to the people we serve.”
– Dr. Vasyl Voronets, Military Surgeon in Ukraine’s East Front
“We believe innovation carries a responsibility: to reach beyond the expected, overcome barriers to care, and bring solutions to the people and places where the need is greatest. Seeing our Canadian-made technology, developed and validated in Canada, being used to its fullest potential in Ukraine reinforces why we do this work.”
– Megan Leslie, Co-Founder and CEO, NanoTess
“We started NanoTess because I know firsthand what it feels like to watch someone you love suffer from a wound that won’t heal. Our mission has always been to help people heal, regardless of where they are or the circumstances they face. That’s why we have donated NanoSALV treatments and shared our expertise with medical teams in Ukraine. We believe that when you develop something that can make a difference, you have a responsibility to get it into the hands of those who need it most.”
– Julian Mulia, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, NanoTess
“While working in Ukraine, I brought NanoSALV with me because I had seen what this Canadian innovation could do for patients. Working alongside medical teams on the ground, I experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to deliver care in these conditions. What struck me most was the dedication and resilience of the Ukrainian medical teams, who are doing extraordinary work with limited resources. Seeing a technology developed and proven here in Alberta now helping to save lives in Ukraine is something every Canadian should be proud of .”
– Dr. Eric Fung, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Alberta Health Services
“In Ukraine, time is everything. A wound that might be manageable in a Canadian hospital can become life-threatening when evacuation is delayed, medical supplies are limited, and infection sets in. We need solutions that work in the realities of frontline care, not just in ideal clinical settings. What makes innovations like NanoSALV so important is the potential to get wound care into the hands of those who need it, when and where they need it most. The commitment of Canadian companies like NanoTess to support Ukrainian medical teams is making a meaningful difference.”
– Hailie Uren, Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Research Lead, Ministry of Health of Ukraine
“This is what happens when we believe in Canadian companies, back Canadian innovation, and give our entrepreneurs the opportunity to solve problems. We don’t just build solutions for Canada. We build solutions the world needs. NanoTess should be on the shelves of every hospital and health care facility across this country, as it continues to demonstrate what Canadian innovation can achieve when we give it the opportunity to grow, scale, and change lives around the world.”
– Dr. Dante Morra, Founder & CEO CAN Health Network
“Canadian companies have the vision to see real world problems and produce practical solutions. From serving our most vulnerable populations here at home to supporting humanitarian efforts overseas, NanoTess showcases the power of investing in Canadian innovation.”
– The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
About NanoTess
NanoTess is a Calgary biotechnology company founded in 2020 by Megan Leslie and Julian Mulia. Its first product, NanoSALV Catalytic, was authorized by Health Canada in 2022 to treat wounds and burns, and is used in hospitals, clinics and pharmacies across Canada. Learn more at www.nanotess.com.
Associated Links
Images and Video Available
Photos, video footage, and additional background materials documenting NanoTess’s work in Ukraine, including drone deliveries and the use of NanoSALV Catalytic in frontline settings, are available to media upon request.
For high-resolution images and broadcast-quality video, please contact:
Sharon Crowther, Head of Marketing and Communications, NanoTess [email protected] | 403-863-6414
