Calgary startup NanoTess has signed a distribution deal with diabetes care company Embecta, bringing its flagship product to more than 14,000 pharmacies across Canada.
Megan Leslie, NanoTess
“NanoSALV focuses on addressing the root cause of biochemical stagnation, enabling stalled healing processes to begin again.”
NanoTess, which develops technology to treat chronic wounds, announced the partnership with Embecta on Tuesday that will see Embecta distribute NanoTess’s NanoSALV Catalytic, a topical gel that uses tiny, catalytic particles to accelerate healing in chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and other difficult-to-heal sores.
The partnership is between NanoTess and the US-headquartered Embecta’s Canadian division. It marks the first time Embecta has distributed a wound-care product in Canada.
Authorized by Health Canada in 2022, NanoSALV makes use of micron-scale catalysts to speed up the natural chemical reactions involved in the healing process. It also helps regulate inflammation and provides antimicrobial protection to lessen infection risk.
Catalysts are, generally, tiny amounts of materials like base and noble metals, alloys, metal oxides, minerals, and biological materials like enzymes. NanoSALV’s proprietary formula includes silica, titanium dioxide and copper catalysts.
RELATED: What Alberta Innovates learned from sending 50 local startups to SXSW
“Conditions like diabetes, for example, can seriously impact the body’s ability to heal wounds,” Leslie said. “NanoSALV…contains micron-scale catalysts which enable the body’s copper-dependent cellular signaling and lower the effort required for cellular reactions to occur—thus kickstarting and supporting healing.”
That differs from other topical treatments, like Polysporin, silver, and iodine, which, while not intended for complex wound treatment, focus primarily on antimicrobial properties and guarding against infection.
“NanoSALV focuses on addressing the root cause of biochemical stagnation, enabling stalled healing processes to begin again,” Leslie said.
In Canada, there are millions of adults living with diabetes. Those people are at increased risk of developing chronic wounds and infections due to complications like lesions and ulcers. Embecta, which manufactures and distributes other diabetes-related products like insulin delivery devices, said partnering with NanoTess broadens the scope of care for the millions of people who have diabetes. “Because people with diabetes often have related conditions…it’s helpful when the pharmacies and healthcare providers that supply their insulin injection devices can also provide them with access to new treatments like NanoSALV,” said Jennifer Spearen, the VP general manager for Embecta Canada.
Since being authorized by Health Canada, NanoSALV has been adopted by both the BC Provincial Health Services Authority, and Alberta Health Services (AHS). It was also added to the Alberta Drug Benefit List in 2025.
CLARIFICATION (03/12/2026): This article has been updated to clarify that NanoTess’s partnership is with the Canadian division of Embecta, to clarify where NanaSALV is available, and to clarify wording related to NanoSALV, Catalysts, and wound care.
BetaKit’s Prairies reporting is funded in part by YEGAF, a not-for-profit dedicated to amplifying business stories in Alberta.